LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS 



OF 



KMPEROR OF FRAXCE, ^'■- 



HT 



HENRY DOGGXTTT. 



^^ee- 



PUBLISHED BY JOHN G. HANZSCHE, 

UNION ARCADE, MARKKT-SPACE. 
1832. 



District of Maryland^ To wit: 

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on tke fourtli day 
of September Anno Domini, 1832, John G. Manzsche, 
of the said district, hath deposited in this office the 
title of a book, the title of which is in the words fol- 
lowing", to wit: 

**Life and Campaigns of Napokon Buonaparte, 
"Emperor of France, &c. By Henry Doggett.'* 

The right whereof he claims as proprietor in 
conformity with an act of Congress, entitled, "An 
-*ct to amend the several acts respecting copyrights." 

PHILIP MOORE, 

Ckrh of the dutri§t. 



J^S /} 



\, 



PREFACE. 



rt»^^^ ^y ^^44*^^ 



WW E present to the public in this 
volume a brief history of Napoleon Buo- 
naparte. It contains in a small compass 
the momentous events of the period 
between the years 1791 and 1815, in 
vv^hich this extraordinary man guided 
the destiny of nations, and decided the 
fate of battles. There being no room 
for embellishments, the facts are given 
in as plain language as possible, to give 
a summary and comprehensive view 
of those battles and splendid victories^ 



iV PREFACE. 

whereby this great chief, subduing his 
numerous arid powerful foes and aston- 
ishing the most distant nations of the 
globe, will be ranked as a warrior and 
a conqueror with Alexander, Hannibal 
and Julius Caesar by all succeeding ages. 

Baltimore^ September^ 1832. 



LIFE AND CA3IPAIGNS 

OP 

CHAPTER I. 

Family of Buonaparte — his early habits — entrance 
into the Army — career until the commencement of 
his active life. 

Although the fame of Napoleon^ Buonaparte 
was so brilliant and extraordinary, that it could re- 
ceive no polish from his having possessed the most 
noble descent, the reader of his hfe will ever desire 
to know something' about the family of so illustrious 
a man. It is true, as he was heard to declare, that 
his renown was pecuUarly Aw own. But still, it 
may be proper, ere we treat of his personal history, 
to say a word or two, respecting the relatives of a 
general, whose military reputation is unequalled 
in the accurate annals of mankind. Napoleon Buo- 
naparte, then, was the second son of Charles Buo- 
naparte, a lawyer of Corsica, and said to have been the 
principal descendant of a family, formerly exiled 
from Tuscany on political grounds. The father of the 
Emperor is stated to have possessed a handsome per- 
sonal appearance, considerable eloquence, and that 
general vigour of intellect, which he transmitted in so 
remai'kable a degree to his distinguished son. His 
mother was Letitia RamoUni, one of the most beauti- 
ful women in Corsica, and a person, whose strong con- 

A 



3 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

stitution and mind were evident through the vicissi- 
tudes of a lon,^ and eventful life. Though she lost 
her husband in the prime of life, she had already 
borne him thh-teen children, eight of whom were liv- 
ing at the decease of their father. The eldest of 
these was Joseph, successively king of Naples and 
Spain; but now a resident in the United States. The 
second, as we have intimated, was Napoleon himself. 
The third was Lucien-, a man, whose intellect, 
though inferior to that of his Imperial relation, was 
of a very superior order. The fourth son was Louis, 
king of Holland: and the fifth, Jerome, well known 
in America and afterwards king of Westphalia. Be- 
sides these, '^lere were three daughters, who obtained 
high rank when their brother became the arbiter of 
nations and the disposer of realms. 

The 'iubject^of our memoir was born at Ajaccio, in 
Corsica, on the 15th of August, 1769, that city be- 
ing at the time tlie residence of his parents. As 
we have before remarked, his mother was of a very 
strong constitution, and, it is said, that having gone 
abroad on the day of his birth, she was compelled 
suddenly to return; and the future conqueror of na- 
tions was ushered into existence upon a temporary 
couch, that waa covered with tapestry representing 
the heroes of Homer's imraortal verses. Little is 
known of his infantile years, hut it is naturally con- 
clude^, that he had the hardy yet simple education, 
usual to persons of the time in his situation. But, it 
is probable, the world might never have become ac- 
quainted with this, its greatest warrior, had it not 
been for the interest he excited in the breast of the 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. "S 

Count de MarbocuflT, governor of Corsica. That Intf.r- 
est induced the Count to procure for our young as- 
pirant the situation of a student in the MiUtary 
School of Brienne, then maintained at the Royal ex- 
pense, for the education of youths who were intend- 
ed for the engineer or artillery department. The 
studies, here presented to the genius of the future 
sovereign of France, appear to have been such as ex- 
actly suited the bias of his mind. It is therefore by 
no means surprising that he made so rapid a progress, 
as to secure the marked approbation of his scientific 
iu'Structors. And, in fact, he laid in that copious 
stock of mathematical knowledge which so frequently- 
staid him in good stead, during his subsequent event- 
ful career. 

Napoleon is represented as having appeared to his 
companions a youth, little addicted to the plea- 
sures, which are common to the age. Nothing seem- 
ed to delight him so much as to make his amuse- 
ments subservient to his instruction; and on all occa- 
sions, where circumstances permitted the exhibition, 
he appears to have displayed that military turn which 
seems to have been the natural inclination of his mind. 
Thus, it is said, upon one occasion, he exercised the 
influence, he appears to have possessed over his com- 
panions, in inducing them to construct a fortress hi 
the snow. This juvenile fortification is stated to have 
exhibited a dawning of that great skill which after- 
wards astonished the world. Be this however as it 
may, his acquirements were such as to obtain for 
their possessor very early notice; since we find that, 
lix. 1783, though only fourteen years of age, he was re^ 



4 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

commended by the inspector of the Military col- 
leges to be sent to Paris, in order to complete his 
education in the general school, established in that 
city. Thus, at this early age, we perceive our hero 
transferred from a provincial town to the future capi- 
tal of his grandeur and his power. And there he at* 
tracted the same attention which had attended him at 
Brienne; being, among other celebrated society, ad- 
mitted to the literary meetings of the Abbe ReynaL 
Numerous anecdotes are told of him, relating to this 
period of his life; but as many of them rest on very 
slight foundation, and as our limits will not permit any 
great deviation from the thread of his certain history, 
we shall hasten to the period, when his arrival a,t 
manhood enabled him to commence a career tha,t 
is unparalleled in the annals of mankind. It 
may hov/ever be proper to remark that, in his 
seventeenth year, he received his first commission, 
(being that of second lieutenant), in a regiment of 
artillery; and, almost immediately afterwards, he was 
promoted to the rank of firet lieutenant in the corps, 
quartered at Valance. Here be mingled with society 
more than he had been accustomed to do; mixed in 
the public amusements; and displayed those powers 
of pleasing which distinguished him, when in a more 
elevated post. His handsome and intelligent features, 
with his active, but slight figure, enabling him 
to appear to the greater advantage. And, on the 
whole, he appears at this time to have been con- 
sidered a young man of superior information and strik- 
ing address. 
But sterner times were rapidly approaching; and^ 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 5 

as he rose to manhood, the surprising- events, occur- 
ring" around him, were calculated to take oft" his at- 
tention from amusement and personal indulgence, 
and to fix it upon those momentous considerations 
which finally elicited all the genius of his extended 
intellect. Corsica, the place of his birth, had become 
opposed to France, under her republican and anar- 
chical government; and the noted Paoli with the 
larger portion of its inhabitants were endeavouring to 
resist the infection of Jacobinism, so prevalent at the 
time. This caused that celebrated individual to be 
denounced in the Convention, at Paris; and an expe- 
dition was sent to reduce the island, and to bring its 
inhabitants" to subjection and punishment. Buona- 
parte, who happened to be in Corsica, at the time, up- 
on leave of absence from his regiment, did not hesi- 
tate in siding with the invaders; although he had pre- 
viously been upon friendly terms with PaoU liimself. 
So that his first entrance upon actual service was in 
the civil wars of the island, where he was born; and 
on the side of his adopted, in preference to that of 
his native land. The party of Paoli, assisted by the 
English, became however too strong to be resisted at 
the time; and Corsica therefore was no longer a safe 
or convenient residence for the Buonaparte family. 
Indeed Napoleon and Lucien had taken so active a 
party, as to be banished from the island. Therefore, 
Madame Buonaparte with the rest of the family, pro- 
ceeded to Nice, and thence to INIarseilles; where tliey 
^ve reported to have suffered considerable distress, till 
the bettered prospects of their fortunate relative en- 
abled him to afford them a timely relief. 
A2 



LIFE AJtD CAiMPAIGNS OF 



CHAPTER II. 

Siege of Toulon — Buonaparte commands the artillC' 
ry and cojiquers the place— Joins the army in Italy^ 
but being superseded on the fall of Robespierre he re- 
turns to Paris to seek employmerit — difficulties of the 
government — i7i^urrecfion of the people in the Capi- 
ialj who are put dawn by Buonaparte in consequence 
of wh'ch he receives the command of "the tzrmy irt 
Italy. 

Before we continue our account of the career of 
Buonaparte, we must briefly advert to the state of 
Fr'^nce, during- the period at which we are arrived. 
Disg-usted with the proceeding's of the Convention 
■which had usurped all power, since the execution of 
tlie kin^, several sections of the country had risen 
against the government. Tired with what appeared 
the ceaseless anarchy of the Republican administra-i 
tioji, and opposed to the cruel butcheries which had 
been carried on in the name of liberty, they declared 
in favour of the King- and the Constitution of 1791. 
AVhile the inhabitants of Toulon, going still further 
than those of Lyons and Marseilles, actually invited 
the English and Spaniards, whose fleets were cruis- 
ing off the town, to take possession of it in the name 
of Louis. So daring an instance of rebellion, coald 
hardly be expected to pass without signal vengeance; 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 7 

and according-ly the Republican army, under general 
Cartaux, was ordered to reduce and punish the re- 
fractory town. But so little was the skill exhibited in 
the attack, that, though great disunion prevailed 
among the defenders, fears were entertained lest the 
capture of the place should be retarded, until the in- 
creasing discontent of the surrounding country should 
compel the besiegers to retire. At this moment, 
liowever, the arrival of Buonaparte, who had just 
been appointed commander of the artillery, quickly 
changrd the face of affairs. Perceiving at a glance 
tlic want of talent, evinced in the attack, he placed 
before the commander-in-chief a scheme of opera- 
tions, which he deemed necessary to the capture of 
the city. And having at last received permission to 
follow his own plans, from general Dugommier (who 
had superseded Cartaux), he soon demonstrated both 
his own skill and the want of it in those, who had pre- 
ceded him in the conduct of the siege. The Eng- 
lish commander, general O'Hara, endeavoured in vain 
to impede his operations by a vigorous sally; attempt- 
ing at the head of 3000 men to storm the batteries 
Avhich were rapidly demolishing the defences of 
tlie place. Nothing could withstand the bravery of 
the Republican forces, directed as they now were by 
a genius, before whom the oldest commanders in Eu- 
rope were shortly destined to quail. The Enghsh 
forces were repulsed with great slaughter; and gene- 
ral O'Hara himself, being wounded, remained a pri- 
soner in the hands of the French. Soon after the re- 
pulse of the besieged. General Dugommier and Buo- 
naparte determmed to assault fort Mulgrave; tlie 



LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

possession of wliich, the laller considered to be equU 
valent to the capture of the city. After a determin- 
ed resistance, they succeeded in obtaining" possession 
of tiie disputed fort, when, agreeably to the opinion 
of the artillery commander, its capture occasioned 
the English to abandon tlie town, wliich was imme- 
diately entered by the victorious Iljspubllcans. 

During these operations, the bravery of Napoleon 
was no less conspicuous than his skill. He received 
a desperate bayonet wound in the thigh, during- the 
saUy which was so vigorously repulsed; and while 
the bombardment of fort Mulgrave was progressing", 
a soldier being- killed at one of the g-uns, he imme- 
diately snatched tITe ramrod from the hands of the 
dying man and fired the gun himself, in order to en- 
coui'age the men, who appeared paralyzed by tlie 
destructive fire of the foe This feat caused him to 
imbibe a cutaneous disorder, which reproduced it- 
self several times in his after-life; serving at once as 
a memento of his personal bravery and of one of the 
first actions in his military career. At the termina- 
tion of the sieg-e, reward awaited him in the shape 
of promotion; having been strongly recommended to 
the Convention by the veteran Dugommier, who 
frankly acknowledged that the chief merit of the af- 
fair rested with him. 

But a short time elapsed, after the capture of Tou- 
lon, ere the subject of our memoir joined the army, 
then in Italy; where his advice and assistance enabled 
the Republican forces to obtain very distinguished, 
success. The remainder of the year (1794), howe- 
ver, presented £cw opportunities for the exercise of 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE 9 

his talents. Yet he did not fail to embrace all 
that came within his reach; and, in the absence of 
more stirring events, he managed to procure that ac- 
curate knowledge of the country, which he turned 
to so good an account, at a subsequent period. The 
fall of Robespierre, whose brother seems to have been 
a sort of patron to Napoleon, tended to check his ca- 
reer, and rendered his situation very unpleasant if not 
critical. He was superseded in his command and, 
for a time, actually placed under arrest; but being re- 
lieved by the interest of Salicetti, his countryman, 
he proceeded to Marseilles, in a state, not well calcu- 
lated either to raise his own spirits or those of his 
family, who were resident there at the time. 

In May, 1795, he proceeded to Paris to solicit em- 
ployment in his profession. Before however we 
come to an account of his success, we must mention a 
few circumstances, in the situation of the public af- 
fairs, that mainly contributed to the fulfilment of his 
desires. The Convention, as we have intimated al- 
ready, had become very unpopular in many sections 
of France. A fresh instance of their insincerity and 
baseness, served to add Paris itself to the number of 
their foes. In order to remove in some degree the 
difficulties if not dangers of their situation, this body 
had adopted a new Constitution,- by which the legis- 
lative power was to be exercised by two houses, in- 
stead of one as had liitherto been the case. But 
fearing that if a/ree election were to be allowed, the 
members of their own chamber might not only be ex- 
cluded from the new assemblies, but be actually 
punished for some of their former proceedings, they 



!0 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

inserted a clause in the Constitution, rendering" it au 
imperative part of the arrangement, that, at least, 
two-tliirds of their present members should form a 
portion of the Houses, to be elected under the said 
law. So glaring a usurpation of power was highly 
distasteful to the inhabitants of the Metropolis. They 
consequently prepared to resist by arms the tyranni- 
cal proceeding; antl General Danican, at the head of 
30,000 National Guards, was appointed to besiege the 
Convention itself, in the palace where they held their 
sittings, and whicli had btcn taken from the king, in 
a preceding part of the Revolutionary struggle. The 
representatives of the nation, as they called them- 
selves, had not however neglected their own defence. 
Having collected some thousands of regular troops 
and some irregular partisans, they prevailed upon 
Buonaparte to undertake the somewhat dangerous 
afi'air of withstanding tlie people reh Ing on his skill, 
well knowing that his skill would enable him to 
make the best use of the 200 cannon, tliey had at 
their disposal. Placing his artillery in the most ef- 
fective situations, and knowing the enemy had little 
or none of this description of arms, the Corsican await- 
ed the approach of the civic force with confidence if 
not with ease. A secoud time engaged in civil war, 
Napoleon was not destined a second time to become 
the victim of its power. Altliough the National 
Guards were greatly superior in numbers to the for- 
ces under his command, his powerful artillery ga.'C 
him a decided advantage. A dreadful carnage was 
effected by the showers of grape and canister-shot 
^vhich he caused to be poured upon the assailing mi* 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1 ♦ 

litla; and, though these civic soldiers exhibited much 
courage and actually attempted to carry his guns by 
main force, they were idtimatcly repulsed with great 
slaughter. Several hundred were killed in this fierce 
engagement, which terminated however in confirming 
the power of the Convention. So signal a victory 
could but augment the fame of the commander, who 
had obtained so desii*able a success. He was soon 
after therefore made second in command of the army 
of the Interior; BaiTas, who had recommended him for 
his late employment, retaining the command in chief. 

It was however but a short period before this lat- 
ter general resigned his post; and Huonaparte rose to 
the head of the army, stationed in Paris. During 
the exercise of his functions in this capacity, he had 
frequently to suppress the risings of the populace, 
and on one occasion, a somewhat ludicrous cir- 
cumstance is said to have occurred. There being a 
dearth of bread, a large mob had collected, which 
Buonaparte endeavoured to dissolve by expostulato- 
ry addresses. But all his attempts were rendered 
unavailing by a stout woman, wiio, told the people 
not to mind those coxcombs in epaulettes, since it 
was indifferent to them, if the population starved^ 
so that they could feed and get fat. * Napoleon, 
hearing this speech turned to the bloated virago and 
said, "look at ine, good woman" (he being at the time 
as thin as a shadow) "and tell us now, which is \}\h 
fatter of the two." This turned the laugh against 
the portly amazon, and the rabble dispersed, for the. 
moment, amid shouts of applause. 

These scenes were nevertheless too bounded for the 



12 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

genius of the future conqueror of Europe. And hia 
marriage with Madame Beauhamois, which took 
place on the 9th of March, 1796, enabled him, through 
her influence, to obtain an opportunity, better calcu- 
lated for the display of his incomparable military skill. 
This was the command of the armies in //a/y, to 
which he departed soon after his new alliance; and 
where he carried on the celebrated campaign we 
shall endeavour to describe in the succeeding 
chapters. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ft 



CHAPTER III. 

Campaign in Piedmont, 1796. 

The positions, occupied by the French army on 
the arrival of Buonaparte, did not vary materially 
from what they were, when he had been super- 
seded in the command. Much fighting- had indeed 
taken place between it and its opponents, since 
that period; but, the contests on the whole, produced 
little effect, and each party had in general maintained, 
or recovered its ground. Tliis however was now 
quickly to be changed. The Austrian and Sar- 
dinian army was commanded by a veteran of seven- 
ty-five, but his skill and experience were by no 
means a match for the untiring activity and admirable 
combinations of the leader of the French. Napoleon, 
though only twenty-six years of age, adopted a sys- 
tem of tactics of which indeed he may fairly be con- 
sidered the chief inventor. This new scheme of 
operations consisted in such combination and arrange- 
ment of his forces, as enabled him on all occasions to 
command a superiority of forces, on a necessary point, 
however inferior he might be upon the whole to the 
army opposed. To effect this, required, indeed, a 
nicety of calculation and an undcviating correctness 
of movement, superior to what had been heretofore 

deemed possible for such large masses. But the edu- 

B 



14 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

cation and intellect of the future Emperor were 
exactly calculated to insure these indispensable pre- 
mises. It is true, the execution of his designs render- 
ed it necessary for his army to dispense with the bag- 
gage and hospitals, formerly considered essential in a 
campaign, and thereby greatly increased the loss of life, 
other than what was required on tlie field of battle; but 
he deemed these evils to be more than counterbalan- 
ced by the greatness of the results. Nor can this opinion 
be fairly controverted, if we consider the matter with 
extended views. Tlie shortness of the campaign, or 
at least the decisiveness of it, made up for the un- 
usual loss; while the glory, acquired by the survivors, 
indemnified them for the great inconveniences, they 
had experienced, during the operations. The more 
especially was such a plan suited to an army, fight- 
ing for renown; and which, if it obtained it, was 
ever certain of abundance of recruits. In fact this 
novel ari'angemsnt more than answered all the ex- 
pectations, which could have been entertained in 
reference to it; since it enabled the French armies 
to proceed from victory to victory, until their ene- 
mies, taught by successive defeats, at length learned 
to conquer in their turn. 

At the time, indeed, of which we are now treating, 
the arrangements of Napoleon were crowned with 
triumphant success. Beaulieu, the Austrian chief, 
had divided his army into three divisions, the better, 
as he supposed, to defend the defiles through which 
he expected his enemy to advance. But Buonaparte, 
instead of going over the Alps or attempting to pe- 
netrate th^ passes of the mountains, as had been 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 15 

usual with invaders of Italy, determined to turn their 
southern extremity, and thus expose the flank of the 
allies to an overwhelming' superiority. It is true, 
the Genoese territory intervened between the enemy 
and the place where Napoleon found a passag-e, and 
Genoa was neutral in the war now commencing be- 
tween Austria and France. The integrity of their 
territory would therefore have been prevented the 
success of the Corsican's manoeuvre, and on former 
occasions such a barrier would have been sufficient to 
stay the advance of an invading general in that direc- 
tion. But Beaulieu, however mistaken on other oc- 
casions, did not believe that such an obstacle would 
withstand the commander of the French. He accord- 
ingly hastened to change his positions and attempt to 
defend Genoa from the clutches of the advancing 
enemy. 

This attempt brought on the battle of Monte NotiC; 
being the first field-engagement in which the subject 
.of our memoir made his appearance. It was fought on 
the 12th of April 1796, and exhibited a fine specimen 
of the plan, whereby two years after, and on tlie same 
day, Napoleon succeeded in baffling the most celebrat- 
ed general of the Austrian government. On tlie day 
previous to the battle, he suddenly concentrated his di- 
visions, under Augereau and Massena, and then actual- 
ly overthrew the centre of the allies, by an irresistable 
.superiority, while their two wings remained entirely 
ignorant that a battle had taken place. D'Argenteau 
did all in his power to defend himself, till the arrival 
of his forces; but nothing- could withstand the fire of 



ii LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

the French when coupled with the superiority wliicU 
Napoleon thought proper to secure. 

As soon as they learned the misfortunes ofD'Ar- 
g-enteau at Monte Nbtte^ the Sardinian and Austrian 
commanders hastened to retreat upon De^o, hoping 
to maintain themselves in that position till reinforce- 
ments should enable them to recover their lost 
ground. The French Achilles was however thun- 
dering in their rear; and he soon convinced tliem they 
were to be allowed no opportunity either for recruit- 
ing or repose. On the contrary, he pursued their 
retreating columns with unwonted celerity; and com- 
ing up with those under general Colli, the Sardinian 
chief, the division of Augereau overthrew them witli 
great slaughter, and separated a body of 2000 soldiers 
from the remainder of the army. These, command- 
ed by general Provera, retired to a neighbouring cas- 
tle, where they successfully defended themselves a- 
gainst repeated attacks, until the failure of Colh to re-- 
lieve them, forced them to surrender to the French. 

While Augereau was thus defeating the Sardinian 
army in so signal a manner, Massena carried the posi- 
tion occupied by the Austrian chief; so that the battle 
of Dego served to separate entirely the allied columns. 
The Sardinians retired westward, to cover Turin; 
while it appeared to be the object of the Austrians to 
defend the approaches to the territories of Milan. 
Their united loss, in this engagement, was rated a 
6000 men, 30 cannon, and much baggiige. Leaving 
sufficient forces to k-3ep Beaulieu in check, Buona- 
parte hastened in pursuit of Colli; and the columns, 
led by Massena and Serrurier, overtaking his army at 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 17 

Mondovii they defeated lilm with much loss, although 
the Sardinian troops displayed unwonted bravery in 
the affair. In this battle, Mui*at exhibited the dawn- 
ing- of that daring" intrepidity, which renders his name 
w) famous as a commander of horse. He defeated 
all the attempts of the Piedmontese cavalry to renew 
the combat; and, at the conclusion of the buttle. Col- 
li was compelled to ^ive over all thous^hts ofbeinj^ 
able to defend the capital of his native land. 

Thus in the course of a campaign, scarcely a month 
in duration, Napoleon had gained three battles, com- 
jiletely separated tlic opposing- armies, and compell- 
ed the king- of Sardinia to sue for peace. Thiis was 
granted him on terms, so humiliating, that the morti- 
fication, he endured, served to bring him to the tomb 
in a very short time. For, this father-in-law of the 
pretender to the throne of France (afterwards Louis 
the 18th) was compelled to dismiss all emigrants from 
his dominions, and to surrender his principal foi-tresses 
into the hands of the French. 



;3 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 



GHAPTER IV. 

Passage of the Po — battle at Foinhio— -passage of the 
Mda and battle of Lodi — capture of Milan — battle 
of Borghetto — peace with Naples — and renewed at- 
tempts of the Austrians under JVurmser. 

Scarcely had the Republican general concluded the 
peace, mentioned at the close of the last chapter, be- 
fore he put his forces in march against the Austrians, 
who, as we have stated, had retired towards Lombar- 
dy, in order to cover Milan. Before it was possible to 
reach that city, it became necessary to pass the Po, a 
rapid and broad river, and the passages of which were 
defended by general BeauUeu, who had received 
strong reinforcements. On this, however, as on for- 
mer occasions, Buonaparte proved himself an over 
match in skill for the brave old German to whom he 
was opposed. While the latter had been induced to 
suppose Napoleon would attempt a passage, at Valen- 
za, that crafty commander actually crossed the river 
more than 50 miles below the point, where his enemy 
was anticipating an attack. Informed, but too late, 
of the stratagem, by which the French leader had de- 
ceived him, and thus performed one of the most cri- 
tical operations an army can execute— the passage of a 
large river, Beaulieu pushed forward his advanced 
guard, under general Liptay, towards the point that 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 10 

^vas menaced by the foe. Nor were the latter less 
eager to engage. By no means wishing to risk a bat- 
tle with such a river as tlie Po imn^diately in his 
rear, the French commander was hastening forward to 
gain room for those extended manoevres, by which, 
lie hoped, to make up for his inferiority of force. 
The opposing divisions met, therefore, on the 8tk 
of May, at Foi/ibio; in which town the Austrians 
having thrown themselves, were endeavouring 
to raise as many fortifications as circumstances would 
permit. But their determined resistance was all in 
vain. Expecting B'.aulieu to arrive to their assistance, 
they fought with great gallantry; but were ultimateh'' 
unable to resist the charges of the French battalions; 
•who were encouraged by the daring that is engcndei*ed 
througli frequent success. Xluis LiptayN division was 
totally routed, the remains of it being saved for a time 
only, by entering the fortress of Piz/ighitone. 

His vanguard being tlius almost annihilated, gene- 
ral Beaulieu retired upon Lodi; where he hoped suc- 
cessfully to defend the passage of the Adda; and to 
cover Milan, the object of all his attempts. I.odi was 
a town containing about 12,000 inhabitants; and hav- 
ing a wooden bridge, near 500 feet in length, over 
the river, we have just named. Beaulieu having con- 
cluded, and for once correctly, that this would be the 
place where Buonaparte would seek a passage, had 
constructed such fortifications, on the eastern side of 
the bridge, as he deemed sufficient for its defence. 
These entrenchments, and the town itself, were occu- 
pied by about 10,000 men, under his own im« 
mediate command. The rest of his forces had retired 



20 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

to Milan, or were stationed at Cassano, a town, 
that like Lodi, was situated upon the Adda. Upon the 
10th of May, Buonaparte approached this celebrated 
scene of his personal bravery. Having driven in 
the Austrian rear-guard, the French quickly gained 
possession of that part of the town which was on the 
western side of the stream. On retiring, the Aus- 
trians had neglected to destroy the bridge, probably 
deeming their batteries amply sufficient to prevent 
the passage of the foe. Nor can they be charged with 
great presumption, when we learn that the lane, pre- 
sented by the bridge, was swept by 30 pieces of can- 
non, besides the musquetry of the 10,000 combatants 
who were stationed for its defence. Napoleon how- 
ever shortly taught them the error of their calculation. . 
Bringing up a number of cannon, equal to the foe, he 
replied to their vigorous fire by a discharge as fierce 
as their own. He even exposed himself, amid the 
greatest severity of the cannonade, in order to station 
two pieces of artillery in such a position as, that their 
fire should prevent the enemy from undermining, or 
otherwise destroying, the bridge. In the mean while, 
he had despatched his cavalry to attempt a passage 
somewhat below; and, as soon as they effected this 
difficult operation and began to put the Austrians 
into consternation by their approach, he immediately 
threw a column of 4000 men, whom he had hitherto 
sheltered from the fire of the enemy in the adjoining 
houses, directly upon the bridge. The word was giv- 
en to advance; and the French grenadiers rushed for- 
ward amid shouts of Vim la Repuhlique.' Their ap- 
pearance, however, upon this important and decisive 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. :I'i 

point, served ijut as a sig-nal for r6doublecl showers of 
grape and musquetry from their determined f-oe. 
The column wavered in its advance; and was on the 
point of flying", when Bertliier and Massena, Corvini 
and D'Allemagne (as some accounts add) Buonaparte 
himself hastened to their head; and the whole mass 
pressing- forward with resistless impetuosity, the pas- 
sage of the Adda and the battle of Lodi were termin- 
ated at once. 

After this decisive defeat, Beaulieu retreated with 
great precipitation. The governor of Lombardy (bro- 
ther to the Emperor of German^) hastily quitted Mil- 
an; into which city Buonaparte made a public entry, 
on the 14th of May, amid the real or pretended gra- 
tulations of its numerous population. 

Such splendid triumphs appear to liave excited the 
jealousy of the Directory, wliothen governed France, 
much as they deserved or received the approbation of 
the people and the troops. It was, therefore, propos- 
ed to divide the army, serving in Italy; the one part, 
under BuonapariCy being destined to pursue the Aiis- 
trians; while the other was to undertake the siege 
of Mantua commanded by Kellerman. A plan 
so inimical to his interests, or his ambition, could 
scarcely meet the approbation of the successfvd Napo- 
leon. He consequently sent in his resignation; and 
the Directory, not daring to supersede such an officer, 
allowed him to continue commander-in-chief. 

Nor was it long before Buonaparte proved by new 
victories, how well he was calculated to do honour to 
the situation. Having suppressed some insurrection- 
ary movements in his rear, he proceeded to attack hijs 



22 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

old competitor, who was now attempting to defend 
the line of the Mincio, as he had formerly tried to main- 
tain those of the Adda and the Po. Again did he de- 
ceive the unwary German. For, while Beaulieu was 
expecting his right to be attacked, he suddenly found 
his centre destroyed, at Borghetto, where was a 
bridge over the river, and which, like that of Lodi, 
was carried by the impetuosity of the French. So 
that once more the Austrian commander was compell- 
ed to seek safety in flight, leaving many prisoners and 
spoil in the hands of the foe. But while the French 
columns which had passed the Mincio, were pressing 
forward in pursuit of Beaulieu, Buonaparte, who 
remained in the rear, was very near being captured 
by Sebbottendorf who commanded the Austrian left 
wing. That officer, hearing the fire of the cannon, 
occasioned by the action at Borghetto, was hastening 
to support his friends, when his advanced cavalry 
suddenly entered the village where Napoleon was 
taking a repast. The French general managed how- 
ever to get away, and the opportunity of thus staying 
his wonderful career had for ever past. So narrow 
an escape induced Buonaparte to form a corps, whose 
particular duty it was to attend the commander-in- 
chief, and which led afterwards to tlie formation of 
the In^perial guard. 

The passage of the Mincio served to drive the Aus- 
trians within the frontier of the Tyrol; and, with the 
exception of Mantua, a vast and strong fortress, with 
some towns of lesser consequence they might now be 
considered as expelled from Italy. Their conqueror 
accordingly returned to Milan to reap, or to survey^ 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 23 

the consequences of his success. Among the first of 
these was the defection of the king- of Naples. 
Alarmed by the losses wliich his troops had sustained 
in the late actions upon the Mincio, he speedily con- 
cluded a peace with the French Republic, and with- 
drew his auxiliary contingent from the Austrian army. 
The Pope and the Arch-Duke of Tuscany, with, 
several of the minor powers, were also compelled to 
seek and purchase the alliance of the French. So 
that in a period, inconceivably short for such aresult, 
the Austrian dominions, and indeed almost all other 
dominions except that of the French, had ceased in 
Italy. But Mantua continued to resist. And to re- 
lieve this last portion of their Italian dominions, now 
became the anxious consideration of the Imperial 
government- Beaulieu was therefore superseded by 
"Wurmser, who, at the time, was thought to be the 
best general in the Austrian army. This officer was 
ordered to traverse the Tyrol with 30,000 men, draft- 
ed from the forces on the Rhine. When having pick- 
ed up the numerous recruits, ever afforded by the war- 
like population of that country, he was to join the 
remains of the army, lately under Beaulieu, and hasten 
to raise the siege of Mantua, now prosecuted by the 
French. His success, or failure, will appear in the 
following chapter. 



;7'4 XIFE AND CAiMPAIGNS 0^ 



CHAPTER V. 

'Battle of Castigilo ne — 7? ov credo — Bassano—fo u riti 
attervjit of the jliistriaris under Alvinzi — Battles 
of Areola — cessation of the ca?n/iaign. 

Buonaparte pressed the siege of Mantua with 
his usual vigouf, but his eflFc)rts were in vain. Hav- 
ins: been able to procure few, or no, reinforcements 
from France, and learning that Wurmser was ap« 
proaching with forces, more than double his own, he 
determined to raise the siege and make preparation*? 
to meet the advancing foe. 

Wurmser, who entertained great confidence in 
his superior numbers', formed his arrangements for 
surrounding his opponent; a design that caused his 
diA isions to be separated in a manner which led to 
their utter defeat. For no sooner did his eagle-eyed 
enemy perceive the chasm, allowed to intervene be- 
tween tliG right wing of the Austriansand the rest 
of their army, than he res. Ived to cut off the former 
before it could gain assistance from its separated 
companions. Leaving therefore a strong rear-guard 
to defend the line of the Mincio, when Wurmser 
should advance to the assistance of his right, he 
hastened to attack the latter, commanded by Quas- 
donowich. In this manoeuvre he perfectly succeed- 
ed. Quasdon^wich was defeated and driven back 
into the Tyrol; thereby allowing Buonaparte to pro- 
ceed to the aid of his rear, now assailed and paitiai- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 25 

iy beaten by the Austrian commander-in-chief. 
This general had entered Mantua on the raising of 
the siege, and was pressing forward to the assistance 
of that portion of his army, attacked by Napoleon 
himself But, as usual, the French general was too 
quick for the veteran German. Having already ac- 
complished, as we have seen, his purpose against 
Quasdonowich, he was prepared to meet Wurmser 
on his advance. The two armies encountered each 
other at Castiglione ; when the Austrians experienc* 
ed a signal defeat, their forces being driven from the 
field in irretrievable disorder. Their loss was esti- 
mated at 40,000 men; a loss greatly aggravated by 
the discouragement, occasioned by so fatal an issue. 
Massena and Augereau particularly distinguished 
themselves in this engagement; and when titles be- 
came fashionable among French generals, the latter 
took his from the scene of this celeb-ated victory. 
After the battle, the French resumed the siege, 
or rather the blockade, of Mantua. For, in fact, as 
they stood in need of heavy artillen^ and were more- 
over expecting renewed exertions, on the part of 
Wurmsen they confined their present exertions to 
the stoppage of supplies. Indeed the Austrian gen- 
eral, being once more strongly reinforced, determin- 
ed to make yet another attempt for the relief of a 
fortress, which had already given rise to so much 
bloody dispute. Leaving therefore 20,000 men, un- 
der Davidowich, to cover the Tyrol, he proceeded 
himself with thirty thousand to execute the purpose 
designed. His reason for thus sepcrating his army. 
^^'as a desire to prevent the advance of the Frcrck 



2(j LIFE AND CAIMPAIGNS OF 

into the Tyrol, as their appearance in that counrtry 
would materially increase the consternation, already 
existing in the Imperial dominions on account of the 
threatening position of Jourdan and Moreau, who 
commanded the aiTnieson the Rhine. But laudable 
as might be the intention of Wurmser, the effect of 
his arrangement was fatal in the extreme. Since 
Na]v.le<>n, who instantly discerned the advantage it 
affoi-ded him, proceeded forthwith to attack David- 
owich, stationed at Roveredo. The position, occu- 
pied by that general, was exceedingly strong, having 
several points that offered rallying places for troops 
who were hard pressed by an enemy. Still he was 
unable to withstand a foe, whom successive victories 
liad rendered invincible. His army was soon driv- 
en from their entrenchments, and even from the for- 
tified position of Galliano, immediately in its rear; 
being finally compcilcd to quit the disputed posts in 
total disarray. Seven thousand prisoners and 15 
cannon, taken by the French, bespoke the nature of 
their triumph; a triumph yet more apparent when, 
on the next day, Massena entered Trent, which for 
a long time had been the head-quarters of Wurm- 
ser himself. 

After the defeat of Davidowich, it appeared like- 
ly to the Austrian commander-in-chief that Buona- 
parte, instead of attending to him, would press for- 
wards towards Inspnick, in order to communicate 
with Jourdan and Moreau, who were already far ad- 
vanced into the German states. Acting on this sup- 
position, Wurmser continued his m.arch against the 
French, who had been left by Napoleon to maintaiji 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 27 

the blockade of Mantua. Despatching general Me- 
zaros to the relief of that fortress, he posted his (wn 
forces at Bassano to cover the operation. But in 
forming this plan he was again fatally deceived. 
For as sooon as Buonaparte became acquainted 
•with it, he determined to attack Wurjmser liimself, 
"while separated from the division of general Meza- 
ros. To do this required indeed unheard ( f exer- 
tions on the part of the soldiers, and equal skill in 
the calculations of their chief. Victory depended up- 
on time, and well did Napoleon know how to employ 
it to the utmost advantage. Seconded by the enthu- 
siasm r>f his troops, he marched uponBasfsano with 
unexampled rapidity; on the 8th of September 
achieved a victory, at that place, which at least was 
equal to anv, he had previously obtained. The Au- 
strian artillery, baggage, and wagons were nearly all 
captured, while the troops, not taken by the French. 
were scattered over the country in detached b^Klies. 
Wurmser, who narrowly escaped from the field of 
battle, joined Mezitrop; and finding his retreat to- 
ward tlie Imperial territory cut off, he resolved to 
throw himself into Mantua, at the head of the 16,000 
men whom he managed to collect after his disastrous 
defeat. 

His march towards that city was opposed by sev- 
eral detachments of the French army; but actuated 
by the vigour of despair, he eluded, or dcscroyed, 
the opposing forces, and finally succeeded in accom- 
plishing his design. In fact, he was near capturing 
his conqueror, during his progress; Buonap .t'te es- 
^raping from an unexpected rencounter with the 



2S LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Austrian Field-marshal merely by the swiftness of 
his horse. 

Such was the result of Wurmser*s second attempt 
for the i^lief of Mantua. And it was a proud, yet 
true, vaunt which the Minister at War was enabled 
to make, wUen he presented the aid-de-camp of Na- 
poleon to the Directory of France. *'In the course 
of one campaign," said he, "Italy has been conquer- 
ed — ^threc large armies have been totally destroyed 
— 40,000 prisoners with 50 stand of colours attest 
the triumphs of our arms: while the whole is rend- 
ered yet more surprising, as well as satisfactory, by 
the consideration^ that it has all been effected by an 
army, never exceeding 30,000 men, and under a 
commander, scarcely 26 years of age.'* 

But successive and complete as had been the vic- 
tories of the French, the Austrian government, ac- 
cording to its usual spirit of perseverance, resolved 
to make yet further efforts for the relief of Mantua. 
The Archduke Charles having beaten back the ar- 
mv, commanded by Jourdan and Moreau, the Aulic 
council ordered large reinforcements to proceed to 
Italy. While General Alvinzi, an officer of distin- 
guished reputation and skill, was appointed to head 
this fresh attempt for the overthrow of Napoleon, 

N«^r did his efforts, on the whole, belie the repu- 
tation he possessed. In the engagements, that im- 
mediately followed his assumption of the command, 
the French armies were frequently beaten, and Buo- 
naparte found it necessary to retreat to Verona; a 
strong position which enabled him to act on the de- 
fensive, or offensive, as circumstances required* 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 29 

Before wc notice the final issue of the campaign 
between Alvinzi and Napoleon, we must mention a 
characteristic anecdote of the manner by which the 
latter managed to regulate and excite the feelings of 
the army under his command. As we have stated, 
the French armies had not experienced their wont- 
ed success, since the appointment of Alvinzi to the 
head of the Austrian forces. In fact, they had 
been absolutely defeated, in some engagements with 
the divisions commanded by Davidowich. A result 
so unusual was attributed to the ill conduct cf cer- 
tain regiments; and Buonaparte determined to visit 
the alleged offences with pointed rebuke. The de- 
linquent battalions were accordingly mustered in his 
presence; when he addressed them in the following 
manner. "Soldiers, you have displeased me. You 
are no longer French comb; tants. Let it be written 
on your colours — these are not of the army < f Italy." 
Groans of son'ow announced the impression, made 
by this brief harangue. In spite of the military 
regulations, several old grenadiers, who were deco- 
rated with orders for past services, cried from the 
ranks, "General, we have been misrepresented; 
place us in the advance, and sec yourself whether, 
or not, we deserve to belong to the array of Italy." 
The desired effect being produced, Napoleon ad- 
dressed the troops in a more conciliatory manner, 
and these regiments particularly distinguished 
themselves during the rest of the campaign. 

Various engagements quickly succeeded between 
Alvinzi, whose object was- to reUcve Mantua, and 
Buonaparte, who was striving to pre\ cnt it. Thre^^ 

C 2 



30 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

separate and fierce battles took place at Areola t in 
which both parties exhibited great perseverance 
and courage. On the whole, therefore, no decisive 
results followed a series of contests, which, for dar- 
ing, bravery, and skill have seldom been equalled 
in the annals of mankind. For though the Imperial 
commander failed in his attempt to assist the be- 
leaguered fortress, Buonaparte also was unable to 
obtain any considerable success. Indeed that part 
of his army, opposed to Davidowich, had been con- 
stantly beaten. Both therefore of the commanders- 
in-chief thought it necessary to give breathing time 
to their gallant but exhausted forces; leaving the 
final settlement of their bloody dispute to a recruit* 
cd army and other fields. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3^ 



CH.tPTER VI. 

Battle of Rivoli-^fall of Mantua — fieace ofCamfio 

' Forjnio — expedition to E^fit. 

But the calm, that succeeded the battles of Areo- 
la, was of no long duration. Austria, that seemed 
to cling to Italy as a drowning man grasps the object 
which comes within his expiring pressure, resolved 
once again to contest its possession with the French 
army. Alvinzi, at the head of 60,000 combat- 
ants, was therefore directed to resume the offensive 
against his brave and vigilant opponent. 

Napoleon received an account of the new storm, 
intended to overwhelm him, from an intercepted de- 
spatch that was directed to Wurmser. Nor did he 
waste the information, so opportunely acquired; but 
hastened to render it subservient to the success of 
the campaign. With his accustomed activity and 
foresight, he anticipated the movements of the ene- 
my, whom he entirely defeated, at Rivoli^ on the 
14th of January, 1797. On no occasion did this con- 
summate general require, or exhibit, greater skill, 
than in this action with the veteran Alvinzi. And it 
is no mean praise to say, as we are amply justified in 
saying, of his noble soldiers, that they were well 
■worthy of so excellent a chief. 

But scarcely had Napoleon completed the defeat 
of his principal competitor, ere he learned that Pro- 
vera, whose bravery has before elicited our notice, 
Tvas on the point of relieving the fortress (Mantua), 



a2 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

to maintain and subdue which so many battles had 
been lately fought between the Austrian and French 
armies. Leaving, therefore, Massena and Murat to 
improve the victory of Rivoli, he hastened towards 
Mantua to frustrate the projects, intended for its aid. 
In order to assist the demonstration of Provera, the 
veteran Wurmser had made a sally fi-om the town. 
Before however the designs of these brave, but un- 
fortunate, generals could be accomplished, Buona- 
parte arrived with his victorious troops; and while 
the former was compelled to re-enter the fortress, 
Provera and all his division surrendered to the army 
of the indefatigable Napoleon. 

After these glorious events, Mantua was compelled 
to submit through want of supplies; and the gallant 
Wurmser, like a noble animal which the hunters 
have subdued, was forced to give himself up to the 
hero, Avho had chased him from the extremity of 
Italy to this last strong-hold of Austrian dominion in 
that countr)'. 

Wurmser was taken, and the army of Alvinzi ut- 
terly routed gnd dispersed. But still the Imperial 
government seemed unwilling to abandon the disas- 
trous struggle. The Archduke Charles, brother to 
the Emperor, and a successful commander against 
the French on the Rhine, was accordingly appoint- 
ed to lead the sixth army, that, within the compass 
of a year, Austria had sent for the defence, or recov- 
ery, of Italy. Vain however were all his efforts for 
the attainment of these much coveted objects. In- 
stead of freeing Italy, he was compelled to make a 
rapid retreat upon the very capital of his brother's 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 33 

dominions; pursued by the young, but ever triumph- 
ant, general, before whom the veteran skill of Au- 
stria had been compelled to succumb. In fact, Na- 
poleon was approaching Vienna itself, when the dis- 
asters and fears of the Austrians induced them to so- 
licit an armistice, that soon afterwards terminated 
in the peace of Camfio For?nio. By this treaty the 
Belgian provinces were ceded to France; that coun- 
try being allowed to extend her frontier to the 
Rhine. The Venitian territories were divided be- 
tween the two powers; Austria reteiving the capi- 
tal and a large portion of the neighbouring country, 
while the remainder was portioned out as it suited 
the interest, or the incUnation, of the French re- 
public. 

After the termination of a war, so glorious as this 
had been to the armies of France — a war whereby 
Napoleon had secured the Revolutionary institutions 
of his country from all external danger — he might 
justly expect the most brilliant rewards. But if such 
■were his anticipations, he must have been extreme- 
ly disappointed. The Directory, jealous of his ex- 
traordinary popularity, did little to honour a man, 
■who had done so much for the honour, safety, and 
glory of France. They even left him in the poverty, 
wherein the call of his distracted country had origi- 
nally found him, but which, however inconvenient, 
was highly creditable to him, now that he was a 
conqueror of several nations, and had had at his dis- 
posal so many millions of the public money. The 
citizens of Paris, and the people in general, offeree^ 
him indeed ample testimony of their deep regard; 



34 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

the former changing the name of the street, where 
he resided, from Rue Chantereine to Rue des Vic- 
toires, as a mark of their respect. And the Institute 
of France, ever anxious to express its sense of dis- 
tinguished merit, elected him a member, in the 
room of Carnot, who had left the country. 

During the progress of the events, related in the 
late chapters, the war between France and England 
had been continually • oing on. And as the ftn'mer 
country was now relieved from continental hostility, 
she seemed inclined to tempt the chances of an in- 
sular campaign. A large army was assembled on 
the Gallic shores, opposite to Britain; and it appear- 
ed as if the Conqueror of Italy was desirous of imi- 
tating his greatest rival in military fame, by attempt- 
ing, like him, the subjection of that celebrated isle. 
But whether the prospect was less enticing, or the 
difficulties of the undertaking seemed more formida- 
ble, to Napoleon than toCxsar, it is certain that the 
project was not persevered in by the modem hero. 
As, instead of gathering fresh laurels in Europe, he 
shortly proceeded to Africa; substituting an expedi- 
tion to Egypt for a voyage to the Thames. 

Our limits will rtot suifer us to follow with much 
minuteness the course of this useless and fatal expe- 
dition. It sailed from Toulon, on the 19th of May, 
1798; and arriving off Malta, on the 10th of June, 
that strongly fortified island was given up to the 
French without any resistance. Leaving a garrison 
sufficient for its defence, Buonaparte quitted the 
place, in prosecution of his further designs; and ou 
the 29th of the same month, landed in Egypt, 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. Sr, 

Before we notice his career, in the land of the 
l^tolemies, it may be proper to remark, that though 
nominally under the dominion of Turkey, Egypt 
was virtually governed, at this time, by the Mame- 
lukes; a sort of military aristocracy, who were in- 
dependent alike of the reputed sovereign and the 
people themselves. To ciaish these warlike des 
pots, was the incipient determination of the chival- 
rous Napoleon. As soon therefore as he had secured 
Alexandria, he commenced his march tnwards Cai- 
ro for that purpose; and after a fatiguing passage 
across the desert, diiring which his army was much 
harassed by the enemy, he arrived at the foot of the 
Pyramids, those everlasting monuments of ages, of 
which they form the only remains. But at their base 
appeared Murad Bey (the chief of tlie Mamelukes), 
at the head of 30,000 men, ready to dispute with 
Buonaparte the possession of the capital. 

On arriving in front of this large army, Napoleon 
made instant preparation for commencing the at- 
tack. He called upon his troops to consider, that 
from the summit of those lofty pyramids, twenty 
generation would witness their exploits. And hav- 
ing tlvis excited the enthusiasm, he was ever able 
to create, as well as to employ, he resolved to as- 
sault the superb cavalry, on which, he was well as- 
sured, the main hope of his opponent must necessa- 
rily depend. But in his design of beginning the ac- 
tion, he was anticipated by 'the foe. Murad Bey, 
foreseeing his intention, charged the French troops 
with gi'eat resolution, and with a persevering cour- 
age that deserved success. But resolution, and cour- 



36 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

age, and despair were alike unavailing against tlir. 
disciplined valour of the French forces. Formed in- 
to squares, the soldiers of Napoleon successfully re- 
sisted the utmost efforts of their gallant, but infuri- 
ated, enemies. Till the cross fire of the French* 
having destroyed the greater part of these celebrated 
horsemen, the remainder were drowned in the 
Kile, across which river they attempted to escape. 
The destruction of the Mamelukes decided at 
once the fate of the battle, and of Egypt itself. The 
French remained, for a time, masters of the coun- 
tr)', and their adventurous leader found himself at 
liberty to prosecute his designs upon the East. He 
accordingly proceeded into Syria, with the bulk of 
his army, and laid siege to jicre^ a sea-port town, 
that was celebrated in the wars of the Crusaders, 
but now of little consideration and small strength. 
A British squadron was cruising in the bay; and Sir 
Sidney Smith, its commander, landed a part of his 
seamen to assist the Turkish garrison in the defence 
of the place. Napoleon carried on the siege with his 
usual activity; but being in want of heavy artillerj', 
he was unable to make the desired impression. So 
that after wasting 60 days, and assaulting the breach 
8 times with great loss, he was compelled to retire 
to Egypt, discomfitted if not disgraced. 

This disappointment, coupled with the informa- 
tion he received, respecting the situation of France, 
induced him to return to that country. After a te- 
dious passage, he landed at Frejus, and, hastening 
forwards, arrived at Paris, October 16th, 1799, 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 37 



CHAPTER VII. 

Buonafiarte becomes First Co7isul— writes to the kin^ 
of England — asbumes the command of the army 
against the jiustrians — crosses the Alps — gains the 
battle of Marengo — returns to Paris. 

As our design is to offer a memoir of Buonaparte 
and not a histv)ry of France, wc shall refer to the 
affairs of that country only so far as may be neces- 
sary to a due understanding of our account. It is, 
however, proper to remark here, that matters had 
become very unsettled in the Republic, during the 
absence of Napoleon on his Egyptian expedition. 
The territory in Italy, acquired by the brilliant vic- 
tories of this general, during the former campaign, 
was nearly all lost; while the army, as well as the 
finances essential for its support, seemed hastening 
to inevitabl decay. It became apparent, therefore, 
even bifore the return of Buonaparte, that a change 
of the administration must shortly take place. 

Soon after his arrival in Paris, he consequently 
headed a fresh revolution in the government of the 
country. The Directory was superseded by the 
C'lnsulate; Sieyes, Ducos, and Buonaparte being ap- 
pointed to administer the executive authority. But 
as Nap )leon was made First Consul^ becoming in 
reality the sole possessor of power, the virtual ter- 
mination of the Republican system may fairly be 
dated from his induction into tlie new office. 

Deep however as may be our regret, at such a 



38 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

close to the great and bloody Revolution, which had 
desolated France for several years, its necessity at 
the time can hardly be denied. It had become ab- 
solutely imperative to establish a vigorous adminis- 
tration, where the subversion of order, and of law, 
and of religion had uprooted the very bases of the 
state. It was time to end that system of change, 
which, too common in all political movements, ap- 
peared truly indigenous to the French Revolutiona- 
ry schemes. In short, the people had become de- 
sirous of having some settled arrangement, even if 
despotism itself were too apparent in the new orga- 
nization of the executive power. 

It was, therefore, in accordance with the general 
will, that Buonaparte assumed the reins of govern- 
ment, on the fall of the Directory. Nor did the ear- 
ly results of his administration, disappoint the ex- 
pectations, which raised him to what might be term- 
ed, with considerable propriety, a *' Republican 
Throne." Where confusion, distress, and rebellion 
had alarmed the country, preventing all ameliora- 
tions, his active and judicious regulations speedily 
restored prosperity and peace. Till the French, 
who are somewhat apt to embrace extremes, forgot 
their late admiration of liberty, and hailed as a chef 
cfccuvre a species of government, that differed only 
in name from the one, they had laboured so hard to 
overturn. 

Soon after his elevation, Buonaparte addressed a 
letter to the king of England. In this communica- 
tion, at once undiplomatic and unusual, he express- 
ed liis desire to terminate the war between the two 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 39 

nations. Nor can it be doubted, but a satisfactory ar- 
rangement might have concluded at this time, if the 
parties had been actuated by the principles, they 
professed to admire. No real cause of enmity, or 
rivalship, did then, or does now, exist between 
France and Britain, beside that proper rivalship 
which must ever arise between manufacturing and 
commercial countries, each of which is anxious to 
obtain a preference in the general market of the 
world. But at the period, we are now considering, 
the feelings of the people in either nation, were too 
much excited to allow them to perceive, or perceiv- 
ing, to acknowledge, their true interests. Thus the 
overture of Napoleon, whether sincere or for. rial, 
passed away without any useful result; and years of 
war were suffered to occur, in order to settle differ- 
ences that common sense would have annihilated ia 
as many hours. 

As we have stated in a preceding page, the 
French aff/irs had assumed a very lowering aspect, 
b'^th at home and abroad, during the absence of 
Nipoleon. Things had somewhat improved in- 
deed with respect to their militarv proceedings, 
through the successes of Massena and M )reau; who 
had brought back victory to the banners, tarnished 
l)y the triumphs of Melas and S\iwarow. The de- 
fection of Paul, Emperor of Russia, from his alli- 
ance with Austria had also served to restore the 
foreign relations of the Republic to a somewhat 
brigliter view. It nevertheless required the enerr 
gy rf Buonaparte himself to complete their resto- 
ration to original glory. It remained for him tQ 



49 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

cover their eagles with victories, almost equal to 
"what had before resulted from his fonunate cum- 
rnand. 

The Austrians had all along exhibited a perse- 
verance and bravery which neither the loss of their 
allies nor t]ie successes of their enemies hud been 
able to subdue. Tnough d^ prived of all Russian 
aid, they were even now meditating the siege of 
Gcn^ a (s<^le relick of the French victories in Italy) 
and afterwards the invasion of France itself. Win- 
ter lU.ne delayed their operations. An army of 
140.000 combntants were spread over the plains of 
P edinont awaiting but the spring to caiTV (as they 
h' ped) their victorious banners upon the Republi- 
can terntoi*y. But fate had reserved for them a 
very different scene. Their veteran and excellent 
commander ( Mrlas ) had been repeatedly victori- 
ous in the campaign of the j^receding year; but he 
was destined to be so no more. A greater than 
M las had entered uprn the stage; and he was a- 
b ut to eclipse the renown of the present, as he had 
bt fore eclipsed that of so many Austrian comman- 
ders. 

It has been stated that the design of the Austrian 
general was to besiege Genoa; to d' fend which an 
inferiour French army was posted under Massena, 
wh had distinguishod himself greatly in the last 
campaign. It now becam'' the part of Napoleon 
to make this design of his enemies the foundation, of 
their loss. Instead therefre c)f proceeding to j in 
M issena and thus giving him a superi' rity in the 
•field, he determined to adopt a quite different ar- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^i 

rangement, and one which seemed at first to leave 
that general entirely to his fate. This plan was to 
p iss over the Alps, instead of tuniing their base as in 
1796; thus phicing himself/;/ f/ie rear of the Aus- 
trians, while Massena continued to occupy their at- 
tention in front. A scheme, so daring and so new, 
required a skill, an energy, and a perseverance 
which a Bu'.napai*te alone was able to display. 
Such an one C( uld alone have conceived the ar- 
rangement, and he only could have brought it into 
successful operation. 

It was absolutely neccssar}' to the success of this 
plan that the enemy sh«)uld remain in total ignor- 
ance of it; since the least suspicion of the design 
would have enabled them effectually to fi-ustrate 
the scheme. A very small force, stationed to de- 
fend tlie passes of the mountains, would have en- 
tirely prevented a march, that was alone sufficient 
to immortalize the hero who conceived it. In order 
then to conceal his design, Napoleon statimed the 
various corps, which were intended to compose tlie 
army under his own immedi.ite command, in num- 
erous and distant cantonments. So that the enemy, 
who was acquainted with the assemblage of only a 
few tlnmsand conscripts, remained entirely ignor- 
ant of an army wliich a few forced marches placed 
at the very base of the Alps. 

The prudence which dictated this precaution 
was equalled by the skill and perseverance that 
overcame the innumerable difficulties of the march 
itself. In vain did the snow-crowned mountains 
present their dreary and dangerous forms before 

D3 



42 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

the Republican army. An enthusiasm, which. 
n ught but a sense of theii leader's talent?, c^uld 
have excited and maintained, enabled the tro- ps 
not only to surm "unt all opposition themselves, but 
to carry over a nuraerc^us artillery besides. Even 
the unexpected appearance of a f rt, commanding 
tlie only possible pass, did not discourage these he- 
roic soldiers; who actually managed to draw their 
cannons under its very guns without being discover- 
ed by the unwary garrison, so tliat in a very short 
period the whole army had completed a passage, 
which would probably have disorganised any other, 
in existence at the time. 

But ere we proceed in our account of Buonaparte's 
operations in this momentous campaign, it is neces- 
sary to turn our attention to Melas, the Austrian 
chief. Agreeably to the plan, already mentioned, he 
attacked M^ssena who was posted for the defence 
of Genoa. H iving succeeded, after several severe 
engagements, in separating the army of that gene- 
ral; he compelled Suchet with one part of it to re- 
treat t' wards the French frontier, whil'^- Massena 
was forced t"^ retire into the city itself. Molas then 
left generrd Ott to prosecute the siege and proceed- 
ed himself to enter upon that invasion of France^ 
which formed a part of his arrangement for the 
present campaign. 

But that invasion he was not destined to carry on. 
Scarcely had he commenced it, before he received 
information which at once compelled him to aban- 
don all operations against the soil of France. Tid- 
ings arrived that the First Co&sul had passed the 



» 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 13 

Alps and was already (April) menacing the territo- 
ries of Milan and Piedmont. With his communica- 
tions intercepted and his artillery and equipage ex- 
posed to capture, it was impossible for Melas to pro- 
ceed further against Suchet. While, on the "^ther 
hand, if he at once turned against Napoleon, he was 
compelled to abandon the siege of Genoa, now on 
the eve of surrendering to his power. 

In this dilemma he adopted a course that had fre- 
quently pr- ved fatal to his predecessors in com- 
mand. Ht divided his forces. Considering it im- 
possible that Buonaparte should have surmounted 
the Alps with any large number of troops or with 
much artillery, he deemed it Ijest to leave a force, 
sufficient to continue the siege of Genoa and watch 
Suchet ; while with the main body he hastened to 
join the regiments that had been left in Italy and 
thus face the French commander-in-chief. As the 
reader is aware, his calculation was founded in 
error and it is therefore by no means surprising 
that it led to his defeat. 

For instead of Buonaparte being accompanied by 
a small force, as supposed by Melas, he reached the 
Italian territory with at least 30,000 men. And 
while the Austrian commander was looking for his 
advance to the relief of Genoa, which he thought to 
be the grand object of his adventurous march over 
the mountains. Napoleon was proceeding to' Milan 
to join a reinforcement rf 20,000, who were c< ming 
from the army of Moreau. In order however to 
conceal this from the veteran Imperialist (Melas 
was an excellent officer 80 years of age) to whom 



44 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

he was opposed, Buonaparte had caused general 
Lannes to make a demonstration, as if he were 
about to march either upon Genoa or Turin. This 
demonstration deceived his aged competitor. He 
accordingly wasted much time in the capital of 
Piedmont, while the First Consul was completing 
his arrangement for the further prosecution of the 
campaign. 

As soon as he had finished the lobours, necessary 
for this purpose, he put liis troops in motion against 
the Austrians. Desirous to relieve Genoa, of the 
fall of which he was as yet ignorant, Napoleon de- 
termined to force the passage of the Po and then 
hasten to effect his design. Having adyanced with 
this intention he soon encountered a large body of the 
Austrian army, commanded by general Ott, whom 
he thought to be besieging Genoa, but who had 
been ordered westward by Melas, when he first 
learned the advance of Napoleon upon the Lombar- 
dian capital. Ott was now stationed at Montebello; 
and a very severe battle was the consequence of his 
present contact with the French forces. The 
ground being covered with tall grain, many bodies 
of the opposing armies remained ignorant of the ap- 
proach of their enemies, almost till their bayonets 
began to cross. This occasioned the action to be 
unusually close and murderous, and it was long 
before either party obtained any decisive advantage. 
The Austrians however were ultimately compelled 
to retreat, leaving the field covered with dead and 
5000 prisoners in the hands of the French. 

From the prisoners, taken in this battle, Napa* 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 45 

leon, for the first time, became acquainted with the 
fate of Genoa. He consequently gave up all further 
advance in that direction, and took a position at Stra- 
della; being unwilling to enter up<m the plains, 
where the Austrian cavalry c. uld operate with so 
decided an advantage. 

In the mean time, Melas had advanced to Alexan- 
dria; but still, contrary to the expectation of Bu >na- 
parte, he did not advance to attack him at Stradel- 
la. Fearing therefore that his enemy might escape, 
either by passing him and thus reaching Milan, or 
by retreating upon Gen<^a, where he c^uld receive 
supplies and assistance from the British fleet, the 
First Consul resolved to go forward. Determined 
apparently, that if the mountain would not ad- 
vance to Mnhomed, Mahomed at any rate should 
advance to the mountain. On the 12th of June he 
accordingly proceeded into the large plain of Ma- 
ren^Oy and having on the 13th reached the village, 
so named, he was surprised to find it occupied mere- 
ly by a small rear- guard of the Austrian army. He 
now concluded that Melas had retreated upon Ge- 
noa, and therefore ordered Dessaix, who had just 
joined him from Egypt, to proceed to Rivolta in or- 
der to observe the communications with that city. 
This general accordingly marched with the rear- 
guard for the purpose proposed; and, as we shall 
see, had nearly by this movement insured the defeat 
of his commander-in-chief. 

For contrary to the anticipation of Buonaparte, 
the Austrian general had determined to engage. 
Finding that the First Consul was in his front, and 



46 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

knowing that Suchet was in his rear, he by the ad- 
vice of a council of war had resolved to hazard a 
general engagement. N >r can this be considered 
other than a wise, although it proved an unfortunate 
resolution. The Austrians were superior in number 
to the French, and their extensive and well disci- 
plined cavaliy were likely to give them a decided 
advantage in the open position, where the contest 
%yas to be carried on. 

Melas therefore on the evening of the 13th of June 
concentrated his forces in front of Alexandria, being 
separated from the proposed field of battle by the 
river Bormida. Napoleon also being at length un- 
deceived with respect to the intention of his oppo- 
nents, prepared for the fight and forwarded orders 
to Dessaix to return as quickly as possible and join 
the army. 

The disposition of his forces for the engagement 
madefy this^^istinguished general was into three 
lines. The villagje of M.irengo was occupied by the 
divisions of Gard4nne and Chambarlhac, supported 
bv Victor (who commanded the whole) with two 
other divisions. The left of this line extended to Ca- 
stel Ceriolo, a small village almost parallel with that 
of Marengo. Behind this first line was placed the 
cavalry under general Kellermann. About a th- u- 
sand yards in the rear of the first line was stationed 
the second, under Lannes, supported by Cham- 
peaux's brigade of cavalry. The third line, which 
was about an equal distance fr< m the second as that 
from the first, consisted of the division, under Carra 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. <7 

St. Cyr, and the Consular guard, at the head of 
%vhom was Buonaparte himself. 

The Austrians also advanced to the attack in three 
columns, crossing the Bormida for that purpose ear- 
ly in the morning of the 14th. The right and centre, 
consisting entii-ely of infantry, were commanded by 
the generals Haddick and Kaine. The left, compos- 
ed of light troops and horse, made a detour in order 
to outflank the French right. About seven in the 
moraing Haddick attacked the village of Marengo 
with great fury; and though Gardanne's division ex- 
hibited much bravery in its defence, it was found 
impossible to retain the possession. Victor supported 
Gardanne; but Melas who placed himself in the 
Austrian centre, coming to the aid of the assailants, 
Marengo remained in the power of the Imperialists. 

Driven from this position, the remains of the first 
French line endeavoured to rally on the second, com- 
manded by Lannes. But this general also found him- 
self compelled to fall back; and the left wing of the 
Austrians beginning to threaten his right, which 
alone stood firm, Buonaparte was forced to detach a 
part of his third line to his support. At this critical 
moment the advance of Dessaix, under Monnier, ar- 
rived upon the field; and Napoleon himself hasten- 
ed to lead them to the decisive point. Even this 
movement was insufficient to arrest the progress of 
the enemy. The French left was entirely defeat- 
ed, the centre was put into great disorder, and the 
right alone maintained any thing, like an effective 
resistance. At this time, victory seemed assured to 
the Austrians; and the aged Melas, completely over- 



48 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

come by the fatigues of the day, quitted the field, 
leaving general Zach to complete the affair. 

But never did the end of an engagement more com-» 
pletely belie the appearances at its commencement 
and during the greater part of its course. For while 
Melas considered the victory as sure. Napoleon was 
preparing to snatch it from his grasp. Dessaix hav- 
ing arrived and occupied St. Juliano, the First Con- 
sul obtained a rallying point for his scattered divi- 
sions. These, with their unrivalled quickness in 
recovering from a check, soon resumed both their 
courage and their ranks. And being led to the at- 
tack by Dessaix in person, they soon turned the 
scales against the hitherto victorious Austrians, 
Dessaix indeed was shot through the head, as he 
gave the order to charge; but his successor, aided 
by Kellermann, soon decided the fate of the day. 
Zach himself was taken prisoner with several bat- 
talions under his command; md a panic seizing the 
Austrian cavalry^ they quitted the field in the ut- 
most disorder. The Imperialists had also advanc- 
ed during their successes without sufficient pre- 
caution; so that when they experienced an unex- 
pected repulse, it became fatal in the extreme. Tir- 
ed too with the length of the engagement, they were 
wholly unable to resist the impetuous attack of the 
French columns. Hence their repulse quickly de- 
generated into a flight, and they were driven across 
the Bormida, with immense loss. Thus terminated 
a battle which offered unusual vicissitudes and an 
unexpected result. A battle that shews a general 
ought never to despair of victory, while there re- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 49 

snains a possibility of avoiding defeat; and that it 
equally becomes one, never to consider his enemy 
beaten till at least the next day. 

The consequences of this affair were important 
and immediate. Melas, on the 15th, entered into a 
convention with Buonaparte, by which he agreed, 
on being permitted to retire behind Mantua, to give 
up Genoa and all the fortified places which were 
hold by the Austrians in Piedmont, Lombardy, and 
the Legations. Thus surrendering all the advan- 
tages, obtained when Napoleon was in Egypt, and 
placing the French in as good a situation as they had 
been, when formerly commanded by this celebrated 
man. A truce also was made between the armies, 
extending moreover to those serving on the Rhine. 

A few days having passed in completing the ar- 
rangements, made necessary by this convention, 
Buonaparte returned to Milan, where he restored 
the republican constitution, which he had originally 
best'wed upon the Cisalpine State, But his pre- 
sence being eagerly desired at Paris^ he left Milan 
on the 24th of June in order to proceed to that city. 
Having visited Lyons on his rout, he finally arrived 
at the Capital on the 2nd of July. 

He had quitted it on the 6th of May; and yet, in 
less than tnvo months^ what great actions had he 
performed! He had passed over the snow-crowned 
Alps — defeated an enemy, who had boasted they 
were about to invade France itself — and reconquer- 
ed Italy, which had been lost when ke was away. 

Can we therefore be surprised that he was receiv- 
ed by the Parisians with every demonstration of 

B 



50 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

jf)y ! All the inhabitants ran to meet the hero, whose 
presence seemed the herald of victory; whose ab- 
sence was the precufser of defeat! Shouts of wel- 
come resounded in every direction; a general illu- 
mination was spontaneously <',fFvred; and it seemed 
as if all Paris were for the moment dmnk with de- 
light. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 61 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Negotiations vnth England — renewal of the war — de- 
feat of the Austrians — peace of Luneville — pence with 
America — peace with Naples — situation of France — 
plots to destroy BttonupartCf his escape^ and increased 
authority. 

Napoleon did not fail to turn his successes over 
the Austiians to good account. But wishing to de- 
tach them entirely from their alliance with England, 
he offered them terms, more favorable than his de- 
cisive victories might have induced them to expect. 
He presented to their envoy, the count deSt. Julien, 
a peace founded principally on the same basis as liad 
been former) y agreed up n at Campo Fnrmio. This 
w;is accepted by the Austrian commissioner; but re- 
jected by the Emperor, because England was not 
included therein. 

A communication was therefore made to the court 
of L-^ndon with a view to bring nbout a general 
peace. The parties however, after sf me negotia- 
tion, could not agree even upon a preliminary con- 
vention; and the Emperor of Austria was conse- 
quently forced either to make a separate peace or 
to c< ntinue the war. 

Considering himself b'^und to his ally, he chose 
the latter alternative. He even placed himself at 
the head of his forces, accompanied by the Arch- 
duke John, who was nearly as popular with the ar- 



^ LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

my as his brother, the Archduke Charles. H-^stili- 
ties being resumet:!, the Austrians at first were par- 
tially successful ; and, at the affair of Haagy obtain- 
ed considerable advantages. This induced them to 
venture upon a general engagement at HolienlindcTip 
on the 3rd of December. But here fortune finally 
deserted their standards, and general Moreau ob- 
tained a victory, almost as complete as that which 
had so lately i;raced Napoleon himself. 

In the meanwhile, other French armies were 
pressing upon the Austrian territory ; so that its go- 
vernment had no resc urce but in again concluding 
an armistice with their victorious opponents. This 
was speedily followed by the peace of Luneville; 
concluded, at that place, between Joseph Buona- 
parte, the French, and count Cobentzel, the Aus- 
trian minister. 

About this period (September 1900) a treaty was 
also c()ncludcd by N ipoleon v\ ith the Uiiited States, 
St me differences had aiisen between the two re- 
publics, and war itself appeared for a time to be th© 
ine\ itable result. These differences were now how- 
ever arranged by a peace, that has remained unin* 
terrupted to the present moment. 

An accommcdaticn with Naples was moreover 
br^ui;ht to a close soon after. This power had par- 
ticip ited with Austria in the late hr>stilities against 
the French Republic; and, after the b .ttle of Ma- 
rengo and the consequent convention, became ex- 
posed t^ the rigour f the French. Nor would it 
probably have escaped withrut i very severe penal- 
ty, but for a strange yet successful resolution of its 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 53 

queen. This consisted in an applicatit^n to Paul, em- 
peror of Russia, beseiching him to use his mediation 
with Buonaparte in favor (f Naples. As we have 
stated, this monarch had withdrawn from his al- 
liance with Austria, and entered into a treaty with 
their (^pponer.ts the French. In fact he had beer me 
an ardent admirer of Napoleon, and nmch corre- 
spondence had taken place between the Autocrat 
and the future invader of his immense domini' ns. 
They were consequently upon the best terms; hence 
pr bably the th; ui;ht, that gave rise to the applica- 
tion of the queen of Niples; and hence too the cause 
of its success. A P'irst Consul cculd n<t refuse the 
request of an ally awd an emperor; and Naples was 
•spared. Murat, who was hastening to punish its te- 
merity, was staid by the applicati< n cf Paul; nnd 
the royal famil}' were as yet suffered to continue on 
the throne. 

Another event likewise occuri'ed about this time 
that marked the policy of Nap' leon. This was the 
restoration of his territories to the Holy Father. 

Instead of re-establishing the Roman Republic, 
which had been created by his former victories in 
Italy, and crushed whin success dawned up' n the 
Imperialists during his absence in Egypt, the First 
Consul surrendered to its f rmer possessor what had 
long been termed tlie patrimony of St. Peter. 

These vari'^us treaties with Austria, N;.ples, ai.d 
the Pope, served at once to prcjracte the glory aiid 
consolidate the pi;wer of the future emperor. The 
next event we shall nftice, dem' nstrated his influ- 
ence, if it failed to display his moderation. This 

E 2 



64 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

was his attack upon Portii.ti:n1. That power had long 
b' en in alliance with England, and she was n^w 
compelled t* pay tlie price of her fncndship. The 
king of Spain was ordered to declare w;'.r against 
his own son-in-law, the Prince Regent of Portugal; 
"while a French army was sent to aid the Spaniards 
in reducing him to terms. He was consequently so* n 
obliged to shut his ports to the commerce of Eng- 
land, and give up a part of his territory to the crown 
of Spain, So early in his career did Napoleon begin 
to exercise the influence that victory had given him, 
and exhibit that determination to interfere in foreign 
affairs, which finally brought about his own singular 
fall. 

All the continental nations seemed now disposed 
to cultivate the alliance of the French Republic. 
England alone continued the war. Her fleets had 
annihilated the commerce of her enemies, wliile 
they rendered extremely difficult the sending of 
supplies to the army, which Buonaparte had left in 
Egypt. The surrender of Malta to that power also 
augmented the difficulties of this operation. And 
this event, which took place on the 5th of Septem- 
ber, 1800, not only produced the effect we have no- 
ticed, but in some degree laid the foundation of those 
dreadful contests which desolated Europe for seve- 
ral years, at the commencement of the next cen- 
tury. 

We must now turn our attention to France itself; 
as it was there the genius of Napoleon had at pre- 
sent to act. The cessation of war compelled him to 
make good the position he had acquired; if not in 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 60 

his native, in his adv')pted. land. An operation the 
more easy, as he was becc-me extremely popular by 
his domestic goveniment as well as by his external 
success. He had at r,nce destroyed internal discord 
and foreign oppression; results, which made him 
a great favourite with all, who cared little ab ut 
the form; so that they experienced the fruits of a 
vivorous and wise administration. 

He was however disliked both by the Royalists 
and the Republicans. Each party saw in him an 
obstacle to the realization of their dreams; and each 
attempted a plot a.^ainst his life. 

The scheme, which the Republicans adopted for 
this purpose, was discovered and prevented; the 
pV t of the Royalist conspirators was actually effect- 
ed, but without attaining the expected result. This 
plan consisted in placing a barrel of gunp .wdcr up- 
on a cart, in such a manner, as that being surround- 
ed with grape-shot, and fired by means of a slow 
.match, its explosion might prove fatal to all who 
were near it at that time. This infernal macliine, 
(as it was appropriately termed,) was ti^ be placed 
in the way of the coach, that bore the First Consul 
to the Opera; and so managed as to explode at the 
instant of his passge. Such was the daring but in- 
famous plot of the Royalist assassins; and it v/as very 
near obtaining a successful celebrity. On the 10th 
cf October, 1800, it was placed in the street St. Ni- 
caise, and actually impeded the advance of Napo- 
leon's coach, which was enabled to pass it with great 
difficulty. The match was fired by St. Regent, one 
cf the conspirators j and had it not been for the in- 



56 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

toxication of the coachm-in, who drove the carriiis^c 
of the- First Consul, and which caused him t ui-£2;e 
his hrses with unusual rapiditv, botli he and his 
master w^uld certainly have perished. As it was, 
two seconds only had elapsed after his passaie, 
when the explosion scattered destniction and death 
all around. Two or three houses were tumbled 
into ruins, 20 persons were killed, and about 5'3 
wounded; but the life, which was aimed at, was 
not yet fated to close. 

When the explosion took place, Buonaparte ex- 
claimed to Lannes and Bwssieres, wh^ were in the 
carriage with him: "We are blown up!" The at- 
tendants were about to stop and return to the palace, 
but with the presence of mind that never deserted 
him, Napoleon ordered them, to proceed to the 
Opera. Tlius crushing any report of his destruc- 
tion, which might be circulated, by his presence at 
the place, where he originally intended to appear. 

This plot, like all such abortive attempts, con- 
firmed and increased the authority, it was intended 
to destroy. Though carried on by the Royalists, it 
was at first, either from policy or mistake, attribut- 
ed to the Republicans. That party accordingly felt 
the immediate effects of its defeat; and nearly 130 
of its leaders were sentenced to transportation be- 
yond the seas. Nor would they probably have es- 
caped from an execution of the decree; but that the 
early insiginficance of the party itself rendered them 
no longer objects of fear. Hence they were suffer- 
ed to sink into oblivion; and manv, who had figured 
during the reign of terror and other periods of the 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^ 

revolution, were heard of no more. The real per- 
petrators were however shortly discovered iand re- 
ceived the punishment, justly due to their abnmina- 
ble schemes. S'^ that a plan, which, if successful, 
would have altered the entire face of aff;^,irs, merely 
served so far to change them, as to permit the First 
C'^nsul to make more rapid pi'ogrcss in the estab- 
lishment of arbitrarv power. New laws were pass- 
ed, cr>nfen'ine: additional authority upon this func- 
tionary; and the p 'lice was arranged with that skill 
and vigour which rendered it so celebrated through- 
out the world. 

A fresh supp^^rt was aff irded to the power of Buo- 
naparte by the concordat with the Pope, which he 
caused to be negotiated during the succeeding year. 
Bv this arrangement the Cath'^lic religion was re- 
stored in France, was again acknowledged to be the 
national faith, and suitable pn) vision was made for 
its dignitv and supp-^rt. 

The administration of Nipoleon received a yet 
further pr<ip frtm an act, that manifested the wis- 
dom, and, as whs th^^ught at the time, the modera- 
tion I f tht' First C-^nsul. Thift iras an amnesty to 
the fmiqranfs. These unfoitunate, if faulty, indi- 
vidunls were permitted generalh to retum to the 
land of their fith^Tb N^'^t mf re than 500 in all 
wpre denied a blessirg, that can be duly appreci- 
ated ' nly by th^se, who have been long absent fr'^m 
the scenes of their vouth or the c^untrv of their 
birth. The gratitude of these persons formed no 
inconsiderable aid to the ■.»dmini?trntion of their be- 
nefactor; nor was even such assistance to be despis- 



69 LTFE AND CAMPATONW OF 

cd in hi* pr'fMTit hituatioii. Vor th<^>uKh ^trnerally 
arlmirt:^, and pi-rhajn almrvfit a* generally feared, 
Bti .naparti- h;ul ytrt cauv* which rnafle him unrrany 
in hin rxalt'fl \}t>%]t\fiit. Hr: wan an yt-t by no rnr-. n* 
firmly wraUtd in the chair fjf auth'/rity; while cventji 
Wf-rc rjccurrin^, that did nr*t promiv him greater 
rep'.«^'. 'I'o thr»^c events, we hhall imm'rdiately at- 
tetwl, mcrrely f.b»crvinj< at prc»<-n% that they nerved 
to increase hin de«ire f' r that t'cneral peace, it will 
»wm be rmr province to rnukc known. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 59 



CHAPTER IX. 

Mliance gfthe Northern powers against England — their 
defeat — death of Paul — capture of Egypt by the Bri- 
tibh — peace of Amiens — Bumiaparte becomes head of 
the Cisalpine Republic arid Mediator of Helvetia — 
French expedition to St. Domingo — renewal of the war 
-—capture of Hanover by the French — proposed inva- 
sion of England. 

As Napoleon had reduced all the continent of 
Europe to a state of peace with the Republic, his 
attention was now mainly directed to a prosecution 
of the war, still carried on between Eagland and 
France. In order then to embarrass this, his sole, 
opponent, he endeavoured to augment the jealousy 
that had arisen among the neutral powers respect- 
ing the right of search. To restrain, or rather to 
crush, the claims of the English government with 
regard to this subject, a confederacy among what 
are termed the Northern powers had lately been 
formed, at the head of which was Paul, emperor 
of Russia and ally of Nap leon. The attempts (if 
the confederates were however entirely destroyed 
by the victory obtained over the Danes at Copen- 
hagen, and by the assassination of Paul, the princi- 
pal of the league. 

These events no doubt created, or increased, the 
desire of the First Consul for a general pacification. 



60 UFE AND CAMPAIGNS 01^ 

Unsupported by the Northern Autocrat in his ope- 
rations against Great Britain, he felt less secure of 
obtaining any distinguished success. During his 
alliance with Paul, lie is said to have entertained a 
design "f aitacking England through her territories 
in the East ; thus endeavouring to obtain by way of 
Persia a result that he ori<inallv hopud to gain by 
his expedition to Egypt. Both courses, however. 
Were closed upon him ab .ut the same time; one by 
the death of Paul which we have just mentioned, 
the other by the loss of Egypt which we are about 
to record. 

The army, sent by the English for the purpose 
of expelling the French from th it countr}-, landed 
thereon the 8th of March, ISOl. On the 21st of 
the same month a genvral engagement ensued bet- 
ween this f )rce and the French led by Mm^^u, who 
h:'.d succeeded to the c; mmand on the death of 
Kltrbcr. The battle eventuated in a bloody, but 
somewhat indecisive, victory, on the part of the 
British, wii. se commander-in-chief, Sir Ralph 
Abercrombie, was mortally wounded dui-ing the 
engagement. But a Turkish reinforcement having 
arrived to the aid of the English army, as well as 
a considerable force from India itself, the French 
were speedily compelled to surrender the country, 
upon being allowed to retUT'n to France. Thus ter- 
minating an expedition that appears to have been 
begun without much consideration or any adequate 
desipn. 

The dea^h of Paul ard the loss ff Egypt were 
events, calculated U i&^cn the difficulties in the 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. CI 

way of peace between the remaining belligerents. 
Negotiations were accordingly resumed, and appa- 
rently with a desire in either side to bring them to 
a happy termination. A preliminary aiTangemcnt 
was therefore concluded between France and Eng- 
land, in October, 1801. This was brought to Lon- 
don by general Lauriston, aid-de-camp of the First 
Consul, who was received on his errand of pacifica- 
tion with every demonstration of joy and respect. 
Plenipotentiaries were forthwith sent to Amiens, in 
order to conclude a definitive agreement; and after 
a deliberation of nearly 5 months. Peace was final- 
ly settled on the 27th of March, 1802. 

Napoleon had now obtained rest for his country, 
after all the turmoils of her great revolution. He 
had quelled the intestine broils which had disturb- 
ed her repose; and covered her armies with a glory, 
unknown or unequalled in the brightest eras of her 
preceding history. He had compelled Europe to 
acknowledge her right to choose the kind of go- 
vernment, which was pleasing to her people; and 
though it ma) be doubted whether 3, re/iublican fovm 
be the best, either for her situation or her p')pula- 
tion, Buonaparte had forced the sovereigns to pernut 
her to make her own decision upon that interesting 
point. All this had been accomplished by the con- 
summate skill, the untiring vigilance and dauntless 
bravery of the subject of our memoir. Well had it 
been for him, for his country, and for the world, if 
he had remained satisfied with the glory flowing 
from such noble results! Proved to be a consum- 
mate general and a statesman of no mean Ciipacity, 

P 



€2 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

how sad is it that he was not also a man, who pre- 
ferred his country's welfare to the dictates of his 
own ambition! 

But as faithful chroniclers, it is our duty to de- 
clare, that such was by no means the case. Scarce- 
ly had he sig;ned the peace of Aniiens, bef(^re he 
evinced a disposition for encroachment, and a spirit 
of ambition, that were certain to pmduce its speedy 
annihilation. By a sort of sham election, carried on 
in France, he caused himself to be chosen head of 
the Cisalpine Rei)ublic; Lims uniting Italy to the vast 
dominions already beneath his controul. 

Ncr was he less desirous of augmenting and per- 
petuating kis authont)' at home, than abroad. For- 
getting, or not caring to recollect, the professed 
causes, which had prcduced the revolution, with 
all its scenes of horror and of bU)od, he now ma- 
naged to carry back his country to almost its old 
p sition. By procuring his election as Consul for 
life with power to nominate his successor, he gain- 
ed the situation though not the name of king. And 
if the revolution secured chmgcs in France, that 
c mpensated even all the misery it produced; th( se 
changes did not consist, as far as Buonaparte was 
concerned, in lessening the powers, granted to the 
chief of the state. 

Great however as were the advances of Napo- 
leon towards unlimited authority in France^ these 
would certainly have failed to excite the animosity 
of the monarchs of Europe. It was his uninter- 
rupted march after foreign power, which quickly 
drew their notice iuid elicited their disapprobation. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 63 

Having annexed Italy to France by the election, 
"we mentioned in a preceding page, Buonap irte n 'vv 
exhibited the universahty of his kindness for tlie 
surrounding countries, by taking Sivitzerland also 
under his special administration. A difference hav- 
ing arisen in thr..t ccuntry as to the form of govern- 
ment best suited to its interests or Its desires, the 
Cliief Consul determined to settle the point by esta- 
blishing liis own. He therefore addressed a prxla- 
mation to the Swiss, informing them, that, as it ap- 
peared they were unable to agree among themsel- 
ves, he had resolved to become a mediator in their 
affairs. This beneficent design he carried into ef- 
fect by an army of 40,000 men, under Ney; a kind 
of mediation that is commonly effectual; however 
little the subject of it niiiy be disposed to consider 
that it is just. In this case, as usual, it was entire- 
ly successful; and Buonapaite added to his other 
titles that of Mediator of the Helvetian Refiublic, 

So glarini5 an usurpation of power, in countries 
professedly independent, could scarcely fail to rouse 
the attention of the British government. They con- 
sequently refused to give up M.dta, according to 
the stipulations of the treaty of Amiens, until the 
French displayed a closer adherence to the spint 
of that accommodation. This led to a renewal of the 
hostile feeling that has so fre uently placed the two 
nations in opposition to each other. And as both 
parties refused to make any concession, — England 
declining to surrender Malta, and France to relin- 
guish her interference with Switzerland and Italy — 
it soon became apparent that, what had been term- 



0i LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

ed, the peace of Annens was destined to be little 
but u tiiice. 

Durint; this armistice however the Chief Consul 
sent an expedition, under general Lt Clcrc, his bro- 
ther-in-law, to reduce St. Domingo. During the 
French Revi^lution the black and coloured pc^pula- 
tion of that fine island had expelled their masters, 
and declared their own independence. Nap/leon 
now sent a fleet of more than 50 slnps of war, and 
20,000 s'lldiers, to punish the insurgents, and bring 
back the island to the dominion of France. 

This large force was altogether irresistible by the 
Wacks; and most of them submitted to the p< wer 
of Li Clerc. But an ally soon came to their assis- 
tance, which turned their submission into resistance, 
and that resistance into complete success. This use- 
ful yet terrible ally was the yellow fever. That 
fatal scourge carried c ff Le Clerc himself and much 
of his army; sn that in the end the remainder were 
compelled to surrender to the English on the recom- 
mt ncement of hostilities, and leave the country it- 
self in possession of the blacks. 

As we remarked before, the peace of Amiens was 
interrupted sfK)n after its conclusion by the fears or 
jealousies of the two nations, which were the prin- 
cipal parties to it. France and England were not 
yet so far enlightened as to perceive that the real 
pn^sperity of the one is by no means incompatible 
with the true welfare of the other. They still look- 
ed and felt as rivals; and hence th'ir fancied inter- 
ests induced them to adript measures that quickly 
^ed to a renewal of the war. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 6& 

As soon as it became qpparent that peace c^iild 
b' no lonircT* picscrv' fl, BiKnapai-te determined to 
take P' sscssion of Hanover. This dependance of 
Great Britain had in f- rnirr wars been allowed to 
remain neutral; but it was now c^'mpelled to feel i'.s 
connexion with that c untrv by a compulsory sup- 
p<Mt of a huy^c b<^>dy of its foes. 

But it was the p!Y)posed invasion of England itself 
that principally engai^ed the attenti(Mi of the First 
Consul, up^n the recommencement of hostilitifs. 
The whole coast of France, opposite to that island, 
became busy with preparations. All its ports were 
filled with shipping suitable f<ir the conveyance of 
troops; while at Rochefort, Brest ar.d Toulon ar- 
maments were prepared which seemed destined to 
gu:ird them durinj; the transportation. A large ar- 
my was also asseml)led, ready for embarkati' n, 
under S^mlt, Ney, Vict(T, and Davoust, generids, 
who were even then considered as < fficcrs of tl.e 
vefA' greatest talent and und: unted courage. The 
whole expediti'^n was prepured by the directions 
and was intended to be under the command 'f Na- 
poleon himself. So that the decisive effort for the 
destructifin of the m- dem drthage was to be exe- 
cuted under the controul of the most distinguislied 
commanders which the revolution had produced, 
and to be led by him wh< se name will be rcmeni- 
bi red when all the atrocities as well as benefits of 
that wonderful event shall be fading from the con- 
sideration of mankind. 

Such extraordinaiy exertions, f r an undertaking 
intended to blot England from the list of indepen- 

F 2 



6a LIFE AKD CAMPAIGNS OP 

dent nations, could scarcely fail to arouse the feel- 
ings and elicit the patriotism of its inhabitants. In 
fact the whole population ran to arms. And no 
doubt can be rationally entertained but a most de- 
termined resistance would have been made, if the 
French troops, escaping the British fleet, had land- 
ed on the English shores. How such resistance 
would have terminated, it is of course now impos- 
sible to declare. But thus much may be safely as- 
sumed, that if Buonaparte had escaped the fleets, 
defeated the armies, and subdued the inhabitants 
of England, there must have united in the enter- 
prise a degree of good luck, skill and perseverance, 
which can scarcely be paralleled, even in his own 
remarkable career. Such a result would have sur- 
passed, as well as rendered unnecessary, many of 
his after exploits; while it would have afforded a 
climax, that must now be for ever wanting to hi» 
j^traordinary renown-. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTK. €7 



CHAPTER X. 

Plots against Bitonaparte — death of the duke d'En- 
ghien — Napoleon becomes emperor of France and king 
of Italy — his second letter to the king of England — 
war between France and Att&triar— capture of general 
Mack. 

The excitement, caused by the preparation for 
an expedition against England, was however short- 
ly lostV^ or became merged in the interest that was 
ehcited by actual occurrences, scarcely less stirring 
in their nature, or calculated to be less important in 
their results. But ere we notice the eifects, pro- 
duced by a renewal of the war upon Europe in ge- 
neral, we must glance at some, occasioned by it, in 
France itself. 

The reader is aware that the assumption of the 
Consulate for life by Napoleon, had raised against 
him the hatred both of the Royalists and the Re- 
publicans. The plots, which that hatred originated 
against his life, were, however, either prevented 
by his vigilance, or rendered ineffectual by his good 
fortune. While the general peace, which shortly 
ensued, prevented for a time a renewal of their at- 
tempts. 

But when war had* again clouded the horizon, 
the demon of assassination once more reared its 
Jiead amid tJie political storm* A number of Ror 



68 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

yalists, among whom were Pichegru and Georges 
Cadoudal, landed on the coast, of France, and not- 
withstanding the vigilance of the police, managed 
to reach the capital of the Republic. There they 
endeavoured to organize a plot, in which Moreau, 
(at that time considered as the leader of the Re- 
publicans,) was said to be engaged, the object of 
which was the removal of Napoleon from authori- 
ty, if not the destruction of his life. But the scheme 
was prematurely discovered; and while some of the 
conspirators expiated their offences by a public 
execution, Pichegru died in prison, and Moreau 
was banished to the United States. 

One of the Bourbon family, the duke d'Enghien, 
was reported to be engaged in this plot. And 
though it is probable he was unacquainted with 
that part of it which aimed at the existence of the 
First Consul, he was certainly endeavouring to ex- 
cite feelings in France that were well calculated to 
lead to such a result. To forward his plans, or be 
prepared to take advantage of their success, the 
duke had taken up his residence at Ettenheim, a 
place in the territory of Baden and close to the 
frontiers of France. Buonaparte having learned his 
situation and designs, determined to prevent the 
execution of the one by taking instant advantage of 
the peculiarities of the other. Disregarding the 
nc utrality of the duke of Baden, he ordered a mili- 
tary force to enter his territory, seize the Bourbon 
prince, and convey him to Paris. On the 14th of 
March, 1804, this order was carried into execution 
by colonel Ordener, acting under the direction of 



i 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. Q6L 

Caulaincourt, afterwards duke of Vicenza. D'Rn- 
ghien was seized at Ettenheim, conveyed to Vin- 
cennes, a fortress situated about a mile from the 
French capital, and there shot by order of a mili- 
tary commission, appointed by Napoleon to take 
cognizance of his imputed offences. 

This summary and irregular method of ridding 
himself of an opponent, can scarcely be justified by 
any considerations. Yet it is the manner of it, whicli 
ought perhaps principally to engage cur animad- 
version, as it was that which excited the disappro- 
bation of almist all Eurt pe. No event in the hfe of 
Buonaparte caused a greater dislike of him than 
this when it occurred, and th- ugh perhaps few of 
,^ th< se who condemned him, w(>uld have hesitated to 
imitate his example in a similar case, it is certain 
that the public feeling has ever been strongly ad- 
verse to this hasty affair. 

The plots that had been formed against Napo- 
leon, previous to the peace of Amiens, served to 
make hun Consul for life. The one we have just 
noticed helped him onward in his ambiti-^us career. 
The Royalists and the Republicans were prostrate d 
by the death of Pichegru and d'Enghien, and 
the exile of Moreau, s<> that nearly all pers'ns, 
either from fear or admiration, acquiesced iii his 
exaltation to the style and situation of Emperor 
which he now assumed. After some preliminary 
proceedings in the chambers, which Buonapaite 
had created t assist or veil his authority, he (-pen- 
iy cicceded to their requ st that he would take up- 
•m Himself the sovereign power. He was accori*> 



70 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

ingiy proclaimed hereditary Emperor of the French 
nation, and in case of his failing to leave issue, was 
authorized to name his successor from among the 
sons or grand-sons of his various brothers. 

On the 2d of December, 1804, Napoleon was 
crowned in the ancient cathedral of Notre Dame 
by the Pope himself. The ceremony was attended 
by great eclat, numerous foreign authorities being 
present, as well as deputations from all the princi- 
pal departments of the French empire. Josephine, 
his v/ife, was also crowned Empress, at the same 
time, by Buonaparte in person, who thus confered 
upon her this distinguished honour in return for the 
advantages which his marriage with her had pro- 
cured for him in his early career. 

Thus in name fell the Republic of France. It had 
long ceased to exist in any thing but in form. From 
the rise of Napoleon to be First consul, France had 
been ruled by his authority, and, if governments 
are to be judged by their effects, it must be ac- 
knowledged the nation had been benefitted by his 
abs' ;lute administration. 

As Italy had followed the example of her neigh- 
bour in all the mutations ©f her government, she did 
not hesitate to continue in her train. A deputation 
from the authorities of the Cisalpine Republic ar- 
rived at Paris to inform the Emperor that they also 
had discovered the disadvantages of Republican in- 
stitutions, and to request that he would remedy their 
difficulties by at once creating and wearing the 
crown of Italy. So flattering a distinction could 
scarcely fail to be graciously received. Napoleon 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 71 

consequently set oif for Milan on the 1 1th of April, 
1805, in order to go through the ceremony of being 
crowned. The new kingdom was modelled after 
the plan, adopted for France; and an order, called: 
"of the Iron Crown," was created, in imitation of 
that, which existed in the latter country, and styled: 
"the Legion of Honour." Having thus become 
Emperor of France and Ki7ig of Italy ^ Buona- 
parte appointed his son-in-liw, Eugene Beauhar- 
nois, viceroy of the new kingdom. He afterwards 
granted the request of the Ligurian Republic to be 
incorporated with the empire; and then returned to 
Paris in prosecution of his further designs. 

Previous to his departure upon this new expedi- 
•tion to Italy, Napoleon addressed a second letter to 
the king of England. Imitating his own example, 
when made First Consul, he signalized his nse to 
the Imperial dignity by attempting to open a direct 
communication with the Sovereign himself. In this 
letter the royal correspondent noticed the grandeur 
of the two countries, now in hostile array against 
each other; the consequent inutility of conquest for 
the purpose of adding either to their power or their 
renown; and dwelt, with great truth though with 
little consistency, upon the advantages of peace, as 
well as the heavy responsibilities of those, who car- 
ried on war from unworthy or useless considera- 
tions. And seeming to think that his assumption of 
sovereign rank would conciliate the brotherhood of 
kings, he intimated his desire to enter upon im- 
mediate negotiations for the establishment of an 
honourable and stable peace. 



%2 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

This undiplomatic communication was answered 
by the English Secretary of State, in a letter to 
Talleyrand, in which that statesman was given to 
understand England could make no precise reply to 
the address of the head of the t'rench government, 
until she had consulted her allies, and especially 
the emperor of Russia. 

A reply so formal and cold confirmed the opinion, 
already entertained by the emperor, respecting the 
hostile disposition of this latter power. Indeed a 
want of cordiality had arisen between the govern- 
ments of France and Russia ever since the death of 
Paul, and the lamentable end of the duke d*En- 
ghien had served to augment the misunderstanding 
between them. Alexander, the successor of Paul,* 
heard of that sad event with great indignation, and 
not only remonstrated with Buonaparte himself up- 
on the occasion, but actually appealed to the Ger- 
man Diet respecting the violation of their territory 
which attended the prosecution of the affair. Thus 
endeavouring to gain the feelings, if not the assist- 
ance, of the Germans, in the quarrel he expected 
to commence with the French government. 

In fact England and Russia were united in their 
determination to oppose that spirit of aggrandize- 
ment, which Napoleon so constantly displayed. 
But fearing that they were unable to contend with 
so great a captain, when he was at the head of alls| 
France, they were using every endeavour to enlist 
Prussia and Austria in their cause, no doubt hoping 
by so powerful a coalition to put a stop to the in- 
crease of, if they were unable altogether to su^ 



STAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. "JS 

vert, the authority, attained by the subject of our 
memoir. 

Since the unsuccessful campaign cf 1792, Prussia 
had observed a cautious neutrahty. Her ancient 
rivalship with Austria had led her to witness with 
satisfaction the humiliation of that power, in the 
treaties of Campo Formio and Luneville. Nor did 
she fail so far to take advantage of the times, as to 
obtain some small accessions of territory in the 
changes, consequent upon those important events. 
But yet the Prussian people beheld with alarm and 
disapprobation the encroachments upon the Ger- 
man empire, made by the French. The integrity of 
that empire was a matter of great interest to them; 
and they consequently viewed the attack upon it, 
in the invasion of Baden, as something allied to an 
attack upon themselves. They were therefore pre- 
pared to receive with pleasure the solicitation of 
the Russian emperor to join him in the war against 
the French people. But their government did not 
second, or authorize, the desires of its subjects; 
remaining satisfied with the assumption of a state of 
armed neutrality, that would give them, as they 
supposed, an ability, to turn the scale in favor of, or 
against, either belligerent, as might be best suited 
to their interest or their caprice. 

Austria was more accessible to the application of 
the allies. Notwithstanding all her defeats, in 1796, 
and her disasters at Marengo and Hohenlinder, she 
was again prepared to resume hostilities; her war- 
like p( pulation having amply recruited the armies, 
so entirely defeated by Buonaparte and Moreau, 

G 



74 HFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF. 

Once more therefore she resolved to hazard tlitC; 
chiiiices of a campaign. Recollecting the victories^ 
obtained by her armies when fighting side by side 
with the Russian Suwarow, she hoped to behold 
again the triumph of her arms. 

At all events she determined to be prepared for 
the worst. An army of 80,000 men was directed^ 
towards Italy, over which country Austria still di- 
rected a very wishful eye; while a similar force was 
ordered to assemble upon the Lech, in order, as 
was anticipated, to act upon the Rhine. The 
former army was commanded by the archduke 
Charles; the latter was led by general Mack. 

Previous to the actual commencement of hostili^ 
ties, negotiation was again resorted to by the go-- 
vernment of Vienna. At the peace of Lunevillejp 
France had agreed to the political independence of 
the Italian, the Helvetian and the Batavian repu- 
blics; and yet Napoleon had assumed the virtual 
authority in either of thetn. As mediator of Switzer- 
land, king of Italy, and ruler of Holland, (for the 
French troops entirely controuled the last named 
country), he was master of the whole; exercising 
his power within them as best suited his own am- 
bition, or, as he affected to term it, the interest of 
^France. Austria therefore was justified in requir- 
ing, as she now imperatively demanded, that the 
treaties between her and the Fre;rich authorities 
should be strictly complied with. And it must in 
fairness be allowed, that she did not exceed the 
justice of the ease, when she required that Napo- 
lecai should resign the power he had usurped, and 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1? 

cease from the interference he had exhibited, in 
the countries we have named. 

To do this, however, was by no means the in- 
tention of the French emperor. Before he assum- 
ed the power that gave such just umbrage to the 
c^^ntinental governments, as well as to England, he 
no doubt calculated the conseqfuences and resolved 
to risk the result. The complaints of Austria were 
therefore eluded, or recriminated, by Napoleon; 
and, in order to preserve, if possible, the peace . of 
Europe, the ^mperor of Russia despatched an am- 
bcissadcr to mediate between the two. But ere this 
minister had arrived at his destination, information 
reached the allies of the annexation of Genoa to 
the French empire. A proceeding which so clear- 
ly exhibited the ceaseless ambiticin of Buonaparte> 
C'vused the scale immediately to preponderate in 
favor of war. Alexander recalled his ambassador, 
and the Austiians hastened to march an army upon 
Bavaria, 

This latter proceeding was as impolitic as it was 
o just. The elector of Bnvaria desired to remain 
neutral in the approaching contest between France 
and Austria; but this the latter power perernptrri- 
ly forbad. And on his quitting his capital, in ord': r 
to avoid a compulsory junction with the Austri?.n 
army, the Imperialists proceeded to make exac- 
tifjns upon his territories, as if they were in actual 
hostility to their arms. A measure so hateful and 
unwise cuM scarcely fiil to-xcitethe animosity of 
ftie Bavarians; and hence, during the greater part 



76 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

of the succeeding wars, we find them and their 
chief in alliance with France. 

Nor was the skill, diS|)layed by the Austrian 
leader, in any wise more conspicuous than the wis- 
dom of his government in its conduct to Bavaria. 
General Mack was an officer ..well calculated to 
shine at a parade; but liis mind was as inferior to 
that 'of Napoleon as the person of a Liliputian to 
that of Gulliver himself. Instead therefore of 
choosing a position where he might have securely 
defended his country till the arrival of its Russian 
allies, and given his own troops an opportunity gra- 
dually to recover the confidence, lost in several un- 
successful campaigns, this miserable commander 
hastened towards the French frontier as if to couil: 
his annihilation. Seeming to think that Buonaparte 
must advance by way of the Black Forest, because 
other French generals had attempted to penetrate 
Germany in that direction. Mack left Bavaria in 
his rear, and proceeded to fortify himself along the 
line of the Iller and the Danube, as if to watch the 
defiles of that celebrated pass. Whereas if he had 
considered, as it was his duty to consider, the for- 
mer campaigns of his illustrious opponent, he would 
have concluded that the fact of previous generals 
having chosen this course, would in itself form a 
pungent re^ison with Napoleon, why he should 
adopt a difFerent*rout. His system of warfare was 
based up >n a hope of surprising his enemies; and 
the fact that an arrangement was likely to be unex- 
peeted by his opponents, was commonly sufficient 
to determine the mind of Buonaparte in favor of its 



J^APOLEON BUONAPARTE. 



ii 



adoption. So that the Austrian leader, in acting 
upon the supposition that this consummate general 
would imitate his predecessors, committed an error 
as faulty in its conception, as it was destructive in 
its results. By a cautious, yet fiiTn line of pro- 
ceeding, he might at least have delayed his defeat; 
and, under the circumstances, this would have 
been almost tantamount to victory itself. 

It is not possible, in our confined limits, to offer 
any thing like a full view of this celebrated cam- 
paign. The proceedings of the French armies 
during its progress were marked with a skill,, cor- 
rectness of movement, and vigour in execution, al- 
together unparalleled. Without the assistance of 
a good map it is impossible to follow with clearness 
the various marches which terminated, in such 
signal success. In its absence, we will cndeavc ur 
to present as clear an outline as circumstances will 
permit. 

Instead then of proceeding against Mack in front, 
as that general expected, Buonaparte resolved to 
turn his flank, and thus cut him off from his coun- 
try and his resources at a single blow. To effect 
this decisive operation,, the French army was di- 
vided into 6 grand divisions. That, under Berna- 
dotte, which had of late been stationed in Hanover, 
jiastened to break up its cantonments; and, ascend- 
ing the Maine, joined itself at Wurtzburg to the 
Bavarian forces commanded by the elector in per- 
son. This chief, as we have seen, was compelled 
into an alliance with France by the proceeding's of 
Austria; and tlijs elector of Wirtembcrg, with thf 

O 2 



tZ8 LIPB ANt) CAMPAIGNS OF 

duke of Baden also, followed his example in joining 
the forces of the invading army. In the mean while, 
the other 5 divisions of the French had passed the 
Rhine at various places; and while Murat manoeuv- 
red so as to confirm Mack in his delusion, respect- 
ing; the advance of the emperor, the columns under 
ISey, Soult, Davoust, Marmont, and Vandamne 
proceeded to move round the right wing of the 
Austrian army, agreeably to the scheme plan*- 
ned by Napoleon before he commenced the cam- 
paign. 

But ere he could complete his arrangement for 
the destruction of Mack, it became necessary for a 
part of the French army to pass through a portion 
of territory belonging to Prussia. A person, lesfe 
daring than Buonaparte, would have hesitated be-* 
fore he violated the neutrality of a nation, so power- 
ful as this; especially at a moment, when the atti- 
tude assumed by its government, shewed that it 
considered itself as holding the balance of Europe 
in its hands. To a common observer it seemed to 
be a great error in policy on the part of Napoleon 
to do any thing, that should huny the hostile feel-» 
ings of the Prussian people into an open alliance 
with the powers, whose armies he was proceeding 
to attack. But the emperor viewed the affair in a 
different, and, as the event shewed, in a more cor- 
rect light. He was well aware that it was not a 
want of pretext, or inclination, that kept Pnissia 
from the field, in opposition to himself; and, as he 
believed that a passage through her territory would 
insure the discomfiture of Mack, he hesitated not 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. X^ 

to order a movement, the great resiilts of which» 
he doubted not, would justify its irregularity and 
risk. Prussia, that now hesitated to join the allies, 
because she feared the genius, or good fortune, of 
Napoleon would prove an overmatch for them all, 
could hardly be expected to do so, when one of 
their principal armies, was either captured or de- 
stroyed. 

Mack, like all weak generals, became paralyzed, 
when, at length, he discovered the intention of his 
foe. He hastily concentrated his army in the neigh- 
bourhood of Ulm; although, as Bavaria and Suabia 
"Were then, or soon afterwards, in full possession of 
the French and their allies, it seemed impossible, 
that his staying there could lead to any result, ex- 
cept his own total disgrace. A part of his army, 
indeed (under the archduke Ferdinand) separated 
from the devoted host; and after several engage- 
ments, and much hazard, managed to reach Bohe- 
mia, and join the forces, there assembling for the 
defence of the empire. But the main body conti- 
nued under Mack himself to await the approaches 
of the French. 

Scarcely had the latter passed the Rhine a couple 
of weeks, when 20,000 prisoners without any gene- 
ral engagement, bespoke the surprise of their ene- 
mies, and the wise manoeuvres of their own com- 
mander. That incomparable captain had thus 
gained the fruits of a victory, without even fighting 
a battle; and was rapidly proceeding to complete 
the destruction • f the Austrian chief, now cooped 
tip at Ulm, as Wurmser had formerly been in the 



80 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Mantuan Giradel. For a time, Mack seemed re- 
solved to hold out to 'he last; and if he had done so, 
his defence would have given his countrymen a 
little period, at least, wherein to counterbalance 
the dreadful blow which his previous incompetence 
had inflicted upon them. It appeared at first, as if 
he were deteraiined to shew, that, if he knew not 
how to command his soldiers, he would at least ex- 
hibit to thetn an example, how soldiers should die. 
But coward as well as fool, he immediately surren- 
dered upon the arrival of Buonaparte; leaving his 
country exposed to the further attacks of his illus- 
trious opponent. 

Thus was the plan of the French emperor whol- 
ly successful. Without a single battle, worthy of 
much consideration, he had captured the main Aus- 
trian army; while his own was ready to proceed, 
with undiminished means and yet augmented confi- 
dence, to complete the objects he had in view. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 81 



CHAPTER XI. 

Capture of Vienna — difficult ntunfion ofBuonaparte — 
baftle of ^tmterlltz — peace of Presburg — capture of 
Naples — ambition of Napoleon. 

Napoleon lost no time before he proceeded to , 
gather the fruits of his remarkable success. Nc^t 
fearinpj that Prussia would interrupt his communi- 
cations, now that Mack's armv was completely 
destroyed, he hastened towards Vienna, the capital 
o^the Austrian dominions. He had menaced this 
citv, during his former campaigjns; but it had hi- 
therto escaped capture bv hisrarms. The disasters 
of Ulm were df^cisive ">f its fate. In vain did a Rus- 
sian detachment press forward to aid the forces, yet 
embodied for its defence; or the Austrian authori- 
ties endeavour to repair its dilapidated fortifica- 
tions. The force which attempted to cover it, was 
successively driven from all its positions, and finally 
found itself compelled to retreat upon Moravia, 
where the grand Russian army was assembled, un- 
der Alexander himself. The Austrian emperor al- 
so fomid it expedient to take a similar course. Per- 
ceiving that to attempt a defence of Vienna would 
merely serve to insure its destruction, he left the 
city, on the 7th of November, a prize to the foe. 

On the 13th of the same month, the French army 
occupied the place; obtaining therein a vast quanti- 



^ UpE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

ty of military stores, arms and clothing, A part of 
this booty was given by Napoleon to the elector of 
Bavaria; who thus witnessed the humiliation, and 
shared in the spoils of the Imperial house, that had 
lately treated him with so much injustice and dis- 
dain. The beautiful palace of Schonbrunn, so re- 
cently the residence of the Austrian emperor, ber 
came the temporary dwelling-place of his future 
relation. And the son of a Corsican attorney com- 
manded in the superb mansion of the head of the 
house of Habsburg. 

In the meanwhile, the French arms had been 
greatly successful in the Italian, as well as in the 
German campaign. The archduke Charles had 
been compelled to quit that country; having coifti-' 
dered it necessary, up? -n hearing of the f-ital affair 
at Ulm, to take up a. position, where he might bet-^ 
ter afford assistance to his brother, the emperor; 
while, at the same time he could countenance the 
general rising in Hungaiy that was now taking 
place. Indeed having succeeded in forming a junc- 
tion with the force, under the archduke John: the 
army, commanded by the two brothers, became an 
object of some apprehension to the leader of the 
French. As in case of his being foiled, either by 
the arms or the policy of his principal opponents, 
such a fc^ce was calculated to place his own army 
in great peril. 

In fact, the situation of Napoleon, upon his pre- 
sent advance against the Austro-Russian army in 
Moravia was a situation of no inconsiderable risk. 
Besides the force of the archduke, which we havi^ 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTK ^ 

noticed already, augmented as that force was likely 
to be by the Hungarian levies, the archduke Fer- 
dinand had succeeded in raising a considerable ar- 
my among the Bohemians. While the Prussians, 
even now doubtfully neutral, were likely to become 
effectually hostile, in case of the French receiving 
any notable check. The allied armies in front were 
also to be viewed in a different light from those, that 
had previously encountered the Corsican emperor. 
The Russians, in the few actions in which they had 
been engaged, during the present campaign, had 
shewn they were the countrymen, and that they 
remembered the triumphs of the brave Suwarow. 
It was therefore to be anticipated, they would at- 
tempt to rival his exploits; and that the Austrians, 
encouraged by a recollection of th«r successes, when 
formerly cwnbatting side by side with tlieir present 
allies, would strive to wipe out their recent discomfi- 
tures by an unusual determination. Whether there- 
fore the views of the French commander were di- 
« rected to his rear or to his front, it became apparent 
to him, that instant battle and undisputed victory 
were absolutely essential to the realization of his 
plans. 

The true policy of the Russian leader was of a far 
different kind. Delay was to him almost tantamount 
to success. Situated in a strong position, he might 
safely have awaited the reinforcements, which the 
patriotism and bravery rf the Austrian population 
were certain to afford. But the presumption cf his 
army, occasioned by the rec^iUections to which we 
have referred, as well as by the manoeuvres of Buo*- 



84 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

aaparte, directed to such an end, induced him to 
quit the advantageous ground he had previously oc- 
cupied, and advance, where Napoleon was enabled 
to obtain the object of his desires. 

This movement of the Russian leader took place 
on the 1st of December, 1S05; when he proved by his 
arrangements, that his intention was to place his ar- 
my in such a situation, as that his left wing should 
be able to turn the right of the opposing force. Oq 
seeing this. Napoleon exclaimed in delight: "before 
to morrow is past, that army is ours. '* He however 
immediately withdrew his outposts, as if in alarm; 
thus confirmin'g the presumption, that had original- 
ly led to the Russian proceedings, and which, on 
the succeeding day, insured their defeat. 

Although the Fuench, as is somewhat usual with 
them, exaggerate the numbers of the allied army in 
this engagement, it is probable no great difference, 
in this respect, existed between them. Each ar- 
my is supposed to have brought into the field about 
80,000 men. But though numerically equal, and not 
essentially different; it is likely, in patriotism or in 
valour, there was much variance in the skill of the 
officers and especially in the talents of the com- 
manders-in-chief. Koutousoff, the Russian leader, 
was a brave veteran, who had commanded against 
the Turks, with considerable eclat. He was old 
however in prejudice as in arms; and was ill calcu- 
lated to meet the then new and admirable manoeu- 
vres, by which Napoleon was accustomed to decide 
the fate of arms. Thus the real superiority was 
unquestionably with those, who shew, in the sue- 



BT APOLEON BTJONAPARrB. 

cteding contest, that they well knew how to turn it 
to account 

As we have noticed, the plan of the Russians was 
to turn the right of their opponents. This scheme 
"Was anticipated by Napoleon, who placed Marshal 
Davoust behind the convent of Raygern to prevent 
its nperation, and be prepared to attack the columns 
destined for its execution, at the very moment when 
they considered themselves assured of success. The 
right wing of the French army was led by S;)ult, the 
left by Lannes, while the centre was entrusted to 
B>.^madotte, assisted by Murat with all the cavaliy 
belonging to the army. A strong division, consist- 
ing in part of the imperial guard, was placed in re- 
serve under the particular notice of the Emperor 
himself; who destined it with 40 pieces of canon to 
act, wherever the exigencies of the battle might 
seem to demand. 

Such were the arrangem'&nts for an engagement 
wherein three Emperors, at the head of their re- 
spective armies, were about to decide the destinies 
of Europe. The sun, that lit these hostile forces to 
a contest with each other, arose with unusual splen- 
d(^ur; and, in after battles. Napoleon was accus- 
tomed to cheer his cohorts, by calling upon them 
to remember the "sun oi Austerlitz." As its beams 
arose above the horizon, Bu'^naparte appeared at 
the head of his army, surrounded by his marshals; 
who, after receiving his final orders, hastened to 
take their part in the action of the day. 

The plan adopted by K< utousoif (or the Russian 
-fjouncil), was at best of very doubtful policy. Its 

B 



86 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

execution, however, was yet more faulty than the 
original design. In the left wing of the allied army, 
having advanced with a view of turning the French 
right, suffered a gap to occur in its communications, 
through which marshal Sdult pene;frated at the 
head of his division. By this movement a part of 
the allies were entirely cut off from their centre, 
while they were impetuously attacked by Davoust, - 
of whose position behind Raygern tliey had remain- 
ed altogether uninformed. This surprise and the 
interruption of their communications caused the 
allied left wing to be entirely defeated. 

The emperor of Russia indeed soon discovered 
the danger of his army, and ordered his own guard 
to attempt the relief of his isolated division. For 
this purpose they attacked Soult With great resolu- 
tion; and for a time the French infantry were stag- 
gered by the vividness of their assaults. But in 
this crisis, Buonaparte, as was usual with him, or- 
dered up his reserve, and quickly restored the 
triumphs of the day. The Russian guards, after 
exhibiting great bravery, were driven from the 
groundj leaving their artillery and standards a prey 
to the French. Constantine, the emperor's brother, 
escaped only by the swiftness of his horse. 

In the meanwhile the French centre advanced 
to complete the victory, Murat, with his superb 
cavalry, charged the allied masses with irresistible # 
force; and the centre of their army was soon in as 
great disorder as the left itself. And though the 
right had hitherto resisted the determined attacks 
of marshal JUaQnes with some success, its fate could 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. S7 

no longer be delayed. Surrounded, through the 
retreat or destruction of its comrades, by an over- 
whelming force of the enemy, this wing was now 
driven into a hollow, where it was exposed to a 
murderous fire from 20 pieces of cannon. In this 
predicament many attempted to escape across a 
frozen lake; but the ice being broken by the fire of 
the enemy, or failing from its own weakness, a 
great part of the fugitives were drowned. 

Having witnessed the fatal termination of their 
arrangements, the allied emperors quitted the field. 
It however required the utmost bravery of their 
guards lo secure their retreat, as the French press^* 
cd around with the greatest alacrity and determina- 
tion. They did however manage to esape, leaving 
upwards of 20,000 men, most of their cannon, and 
40 standards to mark the triumph of their foes. 

This was the most important battle iii which the 
French emperor had been hitherto engaeed. He 
had frequently triumphed over the Austrians; but 
their successive defeats had now so dispirited this 
gallant people that victory over them had become 
almost a matter of course. At Austerlitz, however, 
he had conquered them, when supported by an ally 
whom former triumphs had rendered confident, as 
their native courage does tver render them perse- 
vering and bold. 

This victory was also doubly acceptable to Buo- 
naparte on account of the situation of his affairs,. 
It at once put an end to all apprehension of Prussian 
interference; turning the message of defiance, about 
ft) be delivered to him by the minister of that power 



Sa UFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

just before the battle, into a message of congratula-, 
tion upon its distinguished success. It also served 
as a set off to the total defeat that had been lately 
experienced by his fleet in the battle of TrafaU 
gar. Causing the French people to lose sight of 
their losses ui>on the sea, by inducing them to con- 
sider themselves as masters of the land. 

After so terrible a lesson, the allied emperors 
had no choice but between destruction and peace. 
Francis therefore repaired in person to the camp 
of Napoleon, to solicit a termination of the war* 
His future son-in-law received him in his military 
hut, and told him that was the only palace he had 
©ccupied for nearly two months. "As you have 
tumed your residence in it to such good account,** 
replied the Austrian monarch, "you may surely be 
content with it." Napoleon granted him an armi-?* 
stice;and, at his request, permitted the Russians 
to retire unmolested, upon their emperor agreeing 
to evacuate entirely the German territory, as well 
as the Prussian and Austrian portions of dismem* 
bered Poland. . 

The truce thus obtained was quickly ripened in^ 
to a peace; signed at Presburg^ on the 26th of De- 
cember, 1805, by Prince John Lichtenstein and the 
celebrated Talleyrand. By this treaty Austria wa« 
compelled to make great sacrifices. Beside allow- 
ing the electors of Bavaria and Wirtemberg to as- 
sume the rank of kings, as a reward for their ad- 
herence to the French, she lost upwards of 20,000 
square miles of territory, 2,500,000 subjects, and ft 
revenue amounting to 10^ nullion* of florins* 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 8^ 

During these memorable operations, the kings 
«f Naples and Sweden had been exhibiting their 
hatred to France, or to Buonaparte, by some in- 
significant attacks upon his power. After the tri- 
nmph of Austerlitz, both were made to feel the 
omnipotence of his political authority. The latter 
being compelled to retire to his own dominions dis- 
comfitted and disgraced; while the Neapolitan so- 
vereign was forced to quit altogether his continental 
territories, which were captured by the French. 

Successes so extraordinary as those which had 
hitherto accompanied the career of Napoleon, could 
scarcely fail to aifect strongly the ambition of his 
mind. Well indeed had it been for him and for the 
world, if he had now resembled the immortal Wa- 
. shington in moderation, and had sought the estab- 
lishment of rational freedom^ instead of personal or 
family aggrandizement. But such was by no means 
tlie case. Not satisfied with being himself the head 
of Italy and France, he seemed desirous that all the 
continent of Europe should come beneath his fami- 
ly domination. Naples was given to his brother 
Joseph, who, if he were not a distinguished mo~ 
narch, has ever had the reputation of being, what 
is far better, a respectable and honourable man. 
The republic of Holland was changed into a king- 
dom, and given to Louis Buonaparte; so that the 
descendants of those illustrious patriots, who had 
ernascipated themselves and their country fr m 
Spanish tyranny, were now compelled to bow to a 
sovereign, sprung from an isUmd m the M^^diter- 
ranean sea. The eldest sister of th- emperor re* 

H2 



^ LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

cei ved an accession of territory ; having previously 
obtained the principality of Lucca. While several 
of his other female relatives, or rather the relatives 
of the empress, were married to some of the an- 
cient princes iniling in Europe, 

This desire to connect his family with the old 
dynasties was d' ubtless considered good policy by 
the French emperor. But whether or not he was 
right in this surmise, we think it abundantly evi- 
dent that his establishment of neto kingdoms, with 
the transfers of authority and allegiance, conse- 
quent thereupon, was a measure that demonstrat-- 
ed his powet much clearer than if did his wisdom 
or his justice. Our limits will not suffer us to rffer 
our reasons for the opinion, but we believe that 
these numerous alterations, not only in the govern- 
ments,* but in the limits of the nations of Europe, 
did much to unsettle all Civil as well as political 
" authority in that quarter of the globe. While con- 
firmed, and extended^ as they were, by the con- 
gress of Vienna, they have gone far towards un- 
settling the best basis of order itself. No doubt 
considerable good has been eiFected by the tearing 
up of ancient prejudices and superstitious reve- 
rence; but, still, it will be a sad exchange even for 
these, if anarchy is to be perpetuated in their 
place* 



l^APOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^ 



CHAPTER XII. 

Creation ofnoh'fUty in France — rise of the Confederal 
Hon of the Rhine — conduct of the Prussian govern- 
•jnent—^war between Prussia and France — had manage- 
ment of the Prussian leader — battle of Jena-— conquest 
^ Prfissia— -conduct of the French in that country-' 
generous action of Napoleon. 

When Buonaparte changed the Republic, such 
•as it was on his accession to power, into a monurchi- 
iC«il goverameni, he might have confen*ed an essen* 
tial benefit upon his country. France at that time, 
-whatever she may be at present, was not prepared 
for a system of government, which requires much 
information in the mass of the people, and a habit 
■ef moderation and reflection, altogether foreign 
frim her population. Indeed, on the first appear- 
ance of Napoleon, in capacity of i-uler, a degree of 
despotism might have been exercised, as being 
probably necessary to repress that exuberance of 
feeling and laxity cf action, which had been occa- 
sioned by a long and bloody revolution. Law and 
order had to be re-established, after having suffer- 
ed prostrated obeyance. But when peace, both in- 
ternal and external, had been obtained, he might 
and ought to have confined his ambition to the cre- 
ation of a limited monarchy, as being that form of 
•administration which was best suited to the situa- 
tion of the people and his own real interest. 



^ LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Unfortunately he adopted a far different course. 
Not only were all republican institutions trodden 
under foot with, contempt, but liberty itself was 
"banished from his realms. A nobility was created 
afresh; his civil and military officers being made 
princes and dukes. Old Jacobins, and Ultra-Re- 
publicans of every grade, became peers, under 
various denominations; and the court of the Tuile- 
ries was soon as noted as ever for etiquette and 
form. 

By these means Napoleon endeavoured to fix the 
attachment of the tools with which he had execut* 
ed his vast designs. He did not, however, confine 
his attention to a confirmation, or enlargement of 
his power in, what might now be termed, his own 
dominions; but spread it far and wide among foreign 
nations. Having crushed the power of the emperor 
of Austria, as a separate sovereign, he now deter- 
mined to destroy his influence as head of the Ger- 
man empire. In that capacity, Francis had been 
able to exercise much controul over the various 
states, composing a confederation that had lasted 
more than 1000 years. Buonaparte resolved to de- 
prive him of this authority. He therefore detached 
some of the principal states from the old league, 
and having formed them into a new alliance, inde- 
pendent of Austria, he became *^ Protector of the 
Confederation of the Rhine, ^^ 

This title originated in the situation of the states 
which composed the confederacy; and, by means 
of his new dignity. Napoleon was enabled to extend 
virtually the authority of his empire, far beyond 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. aS 

what he had himself designated as the natural 
limits of France. The Rhine formed the boundary 
he had thus denominated; but, by the scheme we 
have mentioned, he extented his power far beyond 
the limits that, according to his own view, nature 
had imposed upon the territories of his realm. For 
as, in character of Protector, he assumed the power 
of calling out the troops belonging to the confedera- 
tion, and engaging them in wars, wherein their 
concern was scarcely to be discerned, all its states 
became in reality subjects of his power. 

So great a stretch of authority in its own neigh- 
bourhood could not fail to alarm, and equally to 
displease, the Prussian government. In order, 
therefore, to counteract its effect, this power at- 
tempted to form another league, which, having 
Prussia for its head, might serve as a counterpoise 
to the Rhenish Confederation, and thereby pre- 
serve the independence of the North of Europe,, 
Through the intrigues of the French government 
this plan proved an abortion, and it became daily 
apparent that the influence of Napoleon was as ir- 
resistjt)le as his arms. 

Before we notice the effects which these events 
produced upon the Prussian counsels, we will glance 
at the situation and late proceedings of the govern- 
ment of that important country, under the admi- 
nistration and chiefly by the arms and policy of 
Frederick the Great, Prussia, from being a minor 
state, had become one of the principal powers of 
Europe. Her army, fam^vus alike for discipVme 
and valour, now amounted to upwards of 2O0,0f5» 



94 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

men; and, as we have remarked, she seemed t» 
hrld the balance of the continent, during the recent 
contest between Austria and France. Dwring that 
contest, her hatred, or jealousy, of the former had 
caused her to witness the overthrow of the Impe- 
rialists with some cnmplacency. It is true, that 
after the destruction of Mack's army, she began to 
exhibit signs of repentance for the base and foolish 
neutrality; and immediately previous to the battle 
of Austerlitz, her minister was about to deliver to 
Buonaparte a defiance, which that decisive victory 
turned into a congratulating address. But Napoleon 
managed to pacify her for the moment by giVing 
her Hanover, which he had taken from its.elector, 
in spite of the declared, and heretofore respected, 
neutrality of that potentate. And Prussia, or rather 
its ministry, was so base as to accept this boon for 
her suicidical proceeding, although she knew it 
belonged of right to an ancient and steadfast ally. 

But now that Austria was ruined and Russia 
checked by the victories of Napoleon — ^now that 
^e had established a confederation which placed 
much of Germany in his power, while he had hin- 
dered Prussia from imitating his example in this 
respect— he threw oif the mask and actually hesi- 
tated to confirm the Judas-like consideration by 
which this latter power had been kept from the 
field. He was actually negotiating with England 
to restore the country (Hanover), which had been 
ceded to Prussia on account of her refraining from 
opposing his armies during the Austrian cam- 
paign. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. So 

A discovery of this double dealing threw the 
Prussian cabinet into a delirium of anger. The 
ministers who had so shamefully sacrificed the true 
interests of their country, saw themselves outwit- 
ted, as well as disgraced; and that war was become 
inevitable, when it could be carried on but with 
greatly diminished chances of success. As however 
it was impossible any longer to restrain the enthu- 
siasm of the people, who had long been greatly op- 
posed to peace, the Prussian ambassador at Paris 
delivered a note to the French government, on the 
1st of October, 1806, which was in itself tantamount 
to a declaration of war. Since it demanded th^t Buo- 
naparte should no longer thwart the design of Prus- 
sia with regard to the establishment of a confedera- 
tion, in the North of Germany, similar to what 
Napoleon had created on the borders of the Rhine; 
as well as required that, by the 8th of the same 
month the French troops should be entirely with- 
drawn from the German side of that celebrated 
stream. 

To such a demand, the French emperor had but 
one reply. Already was he in the field to prepare 
his answer; and he speedily furnished it, in an ad- 
dress to his own troops, instead of a diplomatic 
communication to the court of Berlin. "A German 
prince," said he to his soldiers, **has dared to in- 
sult the conquerors of Austerlitz; let us hasten to 
fiUTiish, what your brave deeds have not yet been 
sufficient to prevent. " 

In conducting the present campaign, the duke of 
Brunswick, who commanded the Prussians, com- 



3d LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OPi 

knitted the same fault which ruined Mack in t\\B> 
preceding year. Instead of waiting for the Russian, 
auxiharies (for Russia was again in arras against 
France) and thus acting strictly o;n the defensive, 
until their amval, he hastened forward, as if, like 
the ill-fated general we have named,he was desirous 
to court his fall. While, as though it were desirable 
to run a course exactly similar to Austria in her fatal 
campaign, the Prussians exhibited a spirit towards 
Saxony, altogethier like that of the Imperialists in 
the case of Bavaria. The Saxon ruler, like the ruler' 
of the last named country, desired to remain neu- 
tral. This the Prussians would not allow; and the 
forces of that electorate were forced to join the 
standard of Frederick William; an incumbrance 
rather than an aid. 

Nor were the general arrangements of the cam* 
paign better planned, than the particulars we have 
just described. The magazines of the Prussians, 
instead of being secured in the rear of their army 
and in the centre of it, as might have been expect* 
ed, were placed at Naumburg, in the rear of their 
extreme right. Napoleon therefore commenced 
the manceuvres, which wete to annihilate the inde- 
pendence of his enemy, by attempting to turn thi3 
wing, and thus obtain possession of their supplies^ 
This effected, he could .force them to fight at his- 
own time, and iie asked no more. 

For the purpose designed he divided his army in- 
to three divisions, commanded by his most distin- 
guished ofiRcers; the whole being under his own im-- 
Hiediate cMrection and ccntroijJ, After a variety of 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 97 

Bianceuvres, and some severe contests, in one cf 
\vhich Prince Louis of Prussia was killed, fighting 
with a subaltern, the French succeeded in passing 
the Saal, and informed the king of Prussia of their 
being in his rear, by blowing up the magazines at 
Naumburg, which, as we have stated, were in that 
position. 

The Prussian monarch became instantly convin- 
ced of the danger of his situation. Cut off from 
Magdeburg, his great rallying point, in case of its 
becoming necessary to retreat or to divide his army, 
he saw that now he must fight, as nothing short of 
victory would restore his communications. He ac- 
cordingly divided his forces into two divisions, in 
order to cut their way through the French army. 
Hoping to obtain that safety through the bravery of 
■ his troops, which had been put in such imminent 
jeopardy through want of skill. 

The division under the command of, or rather, 
which was attented by, the king, came in contact 
with the enemy, at Auerstadt. The French were 
led by marshal Davoust, who, after a very severe 
engagement repulsed the Prussians at all points, and 
convinced them, that escape in that direction could 
not be obtained. In the mean while the other divi- 
sion of the Prussian army was encountered at Jena 
by Napoleon himself. From the Emperor having 
been present at this place, the double battle has 
usually been called by its name; though the action 
at Auerstadt was probably the severer of the two. 
Napoleon arrived at Jena on the evening of the 11th 
of October, when he found that, though his heavy 

I 



^ LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

artillery was yet 36 hours in the rear, the enemj^ 
Tvere prepared to attack him the next morning; in 
order, as we have stated, to extricate themstlves 
fr m the snare, in which the mastLi'ly nuuioeuvi*es 
of Napoleon and the gallant conduct of the French 
army had served to involve them. Buonaparte hc-w- 
ever, was nothing daunted by a want, which was 
likely to be so much felt in the battle about to ensue. 
Perceiving that if he could raise l;is light guns to an 
elevated plateau, in front of Jena, their presence in a 
p sition, v.here such an apparition could scarcely be 
looked for, would produce an t flfect equal to a larger 
park under ordinary circumstances, he determined 
tu get tliem up the rocky ascent. All night did he 
spend with the soldiers, encouraging them in the 
difficult labour. As each gun was dragged to its 
elevated p sition, he sht^wered gold among the en- 
thubiastic troops, while he raised their spirits by 
telling them that victoiy was surc. *'The Prus- 
sians," said he, "fight for safety and not for honour; 
they are coc'ped up in their present situ .tion, as the 
Austrians were at Ulm. The event will be the 
same." 

On this interesting occasion the centre of the 
French army was commanded by Lannes, the right 
by Augereau, the left by Soult; while the cavalry 
aud reserve were L d by Murat. 

A hea\y mist obscured the sun, during the early 
part of the morning; and the two armies were close 
to each other, before it cleared away. When ob- 
jects became discernible, M'-rcndorf, the Prussian 
commander, attacked the French \vith great vigor. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 99 

nnd for a considerabl - period, the admirable disci- 
pline of the Prussian army enabled it to delay its 
fate. Marshal Snult was hard pressed by his oppo- 
nents; but Ncy cominj^ to his aid, and Buonaparte, 
through his excellent combinations, managing to 
secure a superiority upon the desired poir.t, the 
Prussian line was at length br^ ken and their defeat 
insured. For no sooner was disorder created in their 
ranks than Murat charged their disunited columns 
with an impetuosity and pt-rscverancc which no- 
thing could withstand. All order was quickly lest 
in tlK; Prussian movements, each detachment hast- 
ening from the fi* Id in -ndescribahle confusi(;n.— ^ 
Scarcely a general remained to order, or a soldier 
to obey, nut rf an army that had so lately consisted 
of at least 150,000 men, M re than 20,000 pnsoners 
were takv n by the French in this menv rable dav, 
besides 20 generals, 300 pieces of canon, and 60 
standards. 

A defeat so calamitous is almost unparallch d. 
But fatal <is was the b ttle itst If, its consequences 
were yet more fatal. Scarce a detachment escaped. 
On the next day general Mollend' rf with the prince 
of Orange, who had retired upon Ei-furt, were com- 
pelled to surrender. The duke of Brunswick, who 
had commanded the division at Auerstadt, was 
moitcdlv wounded; and almost all the superi. r offi- 
cers were either killed or taken. General Kalk- 
reuth was overtaken and routed, while endeav( ur- 
ing to escape with a tonsiderable detachment across 
the H irtz mountains. Prince Hohenlohe, who hacl 
managed to reach Magdeburg, found that almost 



00 ; LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

impregnable fortress destitute of provisions and wab . 
sh< rtly afterwards, on his retreat to the Oder, com- 
p«. Ikd with 20,000 men, to lay down the arms, at 
Prcnzlow. Prince Eugene of Wirtemberg with 
16,000 men, who had not yet been engaged, was 
beaten by Beriiadotte at Halle; only about 10,000 
escaping under general, afterwards field-marsUal, 
Bluch' r. This celebrated c ffictrr managed to col- 
lect a considerable bodv of the fugitives from the 
field of Jena, and ende -voured to retire with th: m, 
so as to reinf rce the Prussian garrisons in Lower 
Saxony. During the marches and battles, enc' un- 
tered for this purpose, he exhibited much of that 
indefatigable vigilance and persevering bravery, 
•which, at a subsequent period, redeemed his coun- 
try But at the time, the odds were against him. 
Almost surrounded by numerous detachments of the 
victorious enemy, he was ultimately compelled to 
Withdraw to Lubcck; there, like a stag at bay, to 
await the approach of his pursuers. On their arri- 
val, he still defied their exertions; and it was not, 
till a sanguinary battle in the very streets of the 
town had shewn him the \y pelessness of success, 
that he suiTendered the colours of his country. 

These events decided the fate of Prussia. Al- 
most all her fortresses, though celebrated for their 
strength, surrendered without any, or with scarce- 
ly any, resistance; and it was strongly suspected, at 
the time, that a g<^lden key had unl eked their mas- 
sive gates. Whether it was the cfTect cf treachciy 
or panic, it is n^^w impossible to ascertain; but it is 
Certain, that Spandau, Stettin, Custrin, and even 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. lOJ 

Magdeburg itself, were given up under circum- 
stances, which equally excited the indignation of 
tlic Prussian people and the surprise of Europe. 
In fact all was lost. On the 25th of October, Na- 
poleon entered the capital; and before the end of 
November almost the whole of the German posses- 
sions of the house of Brandenburg were occupied by 
the French. The king was a fugitive at Konigsberg 
with only a few thousand soldiers, the sad relics 
of a host, whose predecessors had defied Europe in 
arms, and who themselves a few weeks bef'.re were 
deemed able to cope with the whole power of 
France. 

Thus in an inconceivable short space of time for 
so mr^mentous an operation, the Pnjssian monarchy 
was crumbled into dust. The labours of a century 
were destroyed in a week. And though the con-- 
duct of that power, during the ruin of Austria, 
took from her much symp)athy, and perhaps de- 
served the chastisement she received, so sudden 
and total an overthrow did in some degree force 
the commiseration of mankind. A feeling that was 
•more justly excited, and universally experienced, 
when the bnital proceedings of her conquerors be- 
came generally known. 

The conduct of the French to>vards the Prus- 
sians, after the conquest we have described, was 
as unjust as it was unwise. If Prussia had sinned 
politically, in the view of Europe in general, she 
had not done so against France. It was in favour 
of French interests she had sacrificed her own; 
HTid put in fearful jeopardy the independence of the 

I 2 



i&2 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

wor'd. Surely therefore the French were b^und 
to remember this, when, for some purp<ise known 
only to themselves, they had overrun the country. 
How far their conduct evinced a kind recollec- 
tion of it, during their occupation, the subsequent 
hatred of the Pinissians to the very name of French- 
man, the black flag at Ligny, and the pursuit at 
Waterloo sufficiently attest ! It is but too well 
known that, on this occasion, the French disgraced 
their country by unheard of exactions and the mo,st 
studied insults. Indeed no palliation can, or oughts 
to be offered for actions, the existence of which caa 
al' ne account for that national hatred, since estab- 
lished between the two pecple. 

But amid such hateful proceedings, it is proper 
and pleasing to notice a trait of generesity exhibit- 
ed by Napoleon himself. Soon after the occupation 
of Berlin by the French, the prince of Hatzfeld, 
residing there under their protection, was discover- 
ed holding correspondence with the Prussian gene- 
rals, yet in the field, and communicating to them 
the state and movements of the French army. One 
of his letters had been intercepted, and the prince 
was arrested; when his wife, (who was ignorant of 
his conduct,) having access to the emperor, loudly 
declared his innocence. In reply, Buonaparte put 
into her hands her husband's letter. She imme- 
diately fell on her knees to beg his life. "Madam," 
said he, **bum the letter, and there remains no 
€Si^idcnce of his guilt." 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. KiS^ 



CHAPTER XIIT. 

Commercf'o! decree^ — commencement offheRui^sian eam'^ 
vaign — spirit of the Poles — battle of Pul/ttsk — Ben- 
nigsen made commander-in-chief of the Rus.nan army 
-^brittle of Prussian Eylau—its immediate const' 
qitences. 

The French emperor did not remain long at Ber- 
lin, although the season was far advanced for a 
continuance of the campaign. Brief h' wever as 
was his stay in that capital, it sufficed for the pu- 
blication of a series of decrees, that have become 
celebrated in connection with the commercial trans- 
actions of the times. Though previously prepar- 
ed, these decrees were not promulgated until now^ 
upon the occasion of the presentation to Napoleon 
of a deputation, sent by the Senate, to congratulate 
him upon his recent sucesses. To this body he 
announced his intention of retaliating, as he termed 
it, the "new customs'* introduced by England into 
her maritime code. For which purpose all inter- 
course with the islands, constituting the British 
dominions, was strictly forbidden; those islands 
being declared in a state of blockade. British mer- 
chandize or manufactures, wherever discovered, 
were to be confiscated — ever\' Englishman found in 
France, or in any na(io?i in alliance with Prance, 
was to become a prisoner of war— aiid no vessel 



lU' LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

coming from England or her colonies was to be ad- 
mitted into any harbour belonging to the empire or 
its allies. At the same time the whole coasts of 
Europe, from the mouth of the Oder to the Adria- 
.tic Gulf, were to be lined with French douaniers 
and gens d*ar7tie8, in order to enforce this new 
''Continental System." 

By means of these "Berlin decrees" Napoleon no 
doubt expected to sap the commercial foundations, 
<ipon wliich he deemed the greatness of England 
mainly to depend. He did not, however, intermit 
his militar)' operations to superintend the execu- 
tion of his commercial laws, but hastened, in a very 
short period, to resume his endeavours for the total 
6u])jection of the Pinissian nation. The few fort- 
resses, that yet resisted the conqueror, were speedi- 
ly assailed; every effort being made to reduce them 
b( fore the arrival of the Russian armies, which 
were slowly advancing to their aid. 

The king of Prussia had indeed attempted to en- 
ter into negotiation with his formidable opponent. 
But finding that nothing short of an unconditional 
surrender of his remaining towns would buy ev( n 
a shiirt armistice, he was compelled to rest all his 
h(^pc upon the assistance of his allies. 

Against those allies, Buonaparte could have com- 
manded a means of warfare tliat would have insur- 
ed their defeat. The partition of Poland, that 
basest of all political spoliations, and which yet 
remains an execrable blot upon the nations that 
performed it, put in his hand a mode of resisting 
Kqssia, which would have been as effectual, as it 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 105 

was then easy to adopt. He had but to declare 
unequivocally his intention to restore the indepen- 
dence of Poland, and his work- was complete. The 
followers of Kosciusko would have performed the 
rest. Pinissia was prostrate, Austria ruined, and 
Russia afraid. Nothing but the will of Ndpoleon 
-was requisite for the restoration (^f a nation, whose 
fate was regretted by every friend of liberty 
thr' ughf ut the world. 

For reasons, which it is now useless to discuss, if 
possible to discover, he neglected an opp« rtunity, 
wliich may never retuni. He allowed indeed some 
of the P« lish exiles to tamper with the feelings of 
their countrymen; but he did nothing effectual to 
ft rward their designs. 

Previous t'^ his proceeding t-^wards P«iland, to be- 
gin the campaign against the Russians, the French 
emperor accepted thi- apology' made by the elector 
of Saxony, for having joined himself to Prussia in 
the commencement '^f the war. That ruler became 
therefore an ally of France; and his armies were 
j'Mued to the Fi-cnch trof ps in the occupation or sub- 
jection of the Prussian territory. 

In the meanwhile tht- Russian van, under general- 
Bennigsen, had reached Warsaw, where indeed 
their presence had become absolutely essential to 
repress the seditii us movements of its discontented 
inhabitants. Murat h wever shortly arrived to dis- 
turb the repose nf the Muscovites in these new 
quarters; and after some unimportant skirmishes, 
they found it expedient t- rccross the Vistula, 
kaving the grand-duke of Berg to enter the capital 



Kjie LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

of Poland on the 28th of NovembeiT, 1806. Napo- 
leon himself had reached P "sen on the 25tn, where 
he f :)Uiid a population who were hit^hlv excited by 
the deceptive assurances that he had permitted 
others to hold out to them, respecting the restora- 
tion of th; ir independence. The i^allant l)ut ill- 
treated Poles flecked to his standard in considerable 
numbers; though his oracular declarations, and in- 
definitive answers to their addresses, began to cause 
a suspicion that he was n"t so ardent in their cause, 
as some of their exiled countrymen had induced 
them to expect. 

Bennigscn however perceived that it would be 
impossible f^r him to make any effectual stand 
•with his single division; and he accordingly con- 
tinued his retreat, until he joined Kaminskov, the 
Russian commander-in-chief, behind the Wkra. 
On the 23d of December, I^u-'naparte forced the 
passes of that river, and the Russian general deem- 
ed it prudent to retreat yet further, to the Niemen, 
He accordingly ordered his lieutenants to fall back, 
behind this latter stream; Brnnigsen marching up- 
on Pultusk, and prince GiUitzin upon Golymin, 
When Bennigsen reached the former town, he de- 
termined to make a stand, although such a pro- 
ceeding was not in unison with the orders he had 
received. He was doubtless led to this determina- 
tion by a desire to restore the spirits of his troops, 
damped by successive retreats; as well as by per- 
ceiving that the position of Pultusk was one, well 
calculated to enable him to obtain such a result. 
He consequently pasted his left wing, under count 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. WW 

Ostcrman, in tlie town itseli, while his right, led 
b) B.irclay de Tolly, rested upon a wood at sonic 
distance. The town of Pultusk is situated upcn tlie 
Narcw, the bridge over which river was occupied 
by a strong detachment, in order to prevent an at* 
tack in that direction. On the 26th of December, 
Lannes and Davoust, with their own divisions and 
th*. Imperial guards, attacked the Russians in this 
position. After some ineffectual attempt** upon the 
centre of the enemy, the French geiicrals (agree- 
ably to the tactics of their master,) concentrated 
a vast force upon their own left, and drove Barclay 
de Tolly out of the wood; hoping to turn tlie right 
"Wing of the Russians and gain their rear. The re- 
treat however of this part of the Russian force, 
served to lead theii rather incautious pursuers into 
a f;ital snare. For the Russian cavalry having co- 
vered the manoeuvres (<f their commander, the 
French, upon advancing in pursuit, suddenly found 
themselves in front of the main b<xly of tlie foe, and 
exposed to a close and destructive fire ivom 120 
pieces of cannon. This unexpected opposition de- 
cided the affair; for the Russians pressing forward 
against the discumfitted enemy, the latter were 
compelled to quit the field, after suffering a loss of 
SOOO men killed and wounded in this sharp en- 
counter. General Lannes was among the latter; 
and so rapidly did the French retreat after nightfall, 
that the Cossacks could discover no remains of 
them in the neighbv urhood on the succeeding day. 
While I his bittle was going on at Pultusk prince 
Galitzin was engaged at Goiymin. Like bcniii^sen 



la-J LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

he repulsed the enemy; but hke him also, he was 
compelled to retreat after the engagement. F )r 
Unsupported by the other divisions of the army, and 
directed bv the orders of Kaminskoy, his lieutenants 
were forced to direct their march upon Ostrolenka, 
where the two victorious yet retreating bodies were 
united together. 

The incapivcity of the Russian commander-in- 
chief became so apparent, from his failing to sup- 
pf^rt his brave subalterns in the battles of Pultusk 
and Golymin, that he was shortly afterwards su])er- 
seded by Bcnnigsen with general applause. Those 
severe engagements however did much in raising 
the spirits of the Russians; though, for the causes 
we have noticed, they had no important bearing up- 
on the situation of the opposing armies. They ser- 
ved to shew, that even under Napoleon himself the 
French could be successfully resisted; and there can 
be no doubt, but a recollection of the battles of Pul- 
tusk and Eylau assisted the emperor Alexander in 
forming the determination, to oppose the hosts of 
France, which led, a few years aftei'wards, to the 
salvation of his own countiy, and of Europe iu 
general. 

Soon after his assumption of the supreme com- 
mand, Bennigsen determined to put his army again 
in motion. He did not wish them to forget how to 
conquer, and resolved by menacing the French hosts 
to attempt the relief of Konigsberg, then besieged 
and ready to fall. For this purpose he advanced to 
Mohringen where the French suffered considerable 
in a skirmish, and whence the Cossacks spread 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE lj)9 

themselves over the surrounding country with very 
great success. Indeed the confusion created by this 
irregular cavalry, was so extensive and complete, 
that the king of Prussia was enabled to throw sup- 
plies of all kinds in the besieged fortress. 

After the battle of Pultusk, Buonapai-te, instead 
i.i pursuing the campaign, had retired to A\'arsa\v, 
his army generally occupying cantonments in the 
neighbouring towns. But he now found it necessary 
to concentrate his divisions, and resume the offen- 
sive. The operations of Bennigsen were not to be 
overlooked; and Napoleon determined to anticipate' 
his designs. 

His plan for the new campaign was similar to 
what he had so successfully pursued in the Aus- 
trian and PiTiSsian wars. Ulm and Jena were to be 
acted over again in some new field. While Bcrna- 
dotte with a strong division was to amuse the Rus- 
sian chief in his position at Mohringen, or if possi- 
ble, induce him to advance, the other parts of the 
French army were to be concentrated at Willen- 
bcrg, in the rear of the enemies' position. Thus 
cutting off the Russians from their resources and 
compelling them, as he had done the Prussians ;i 
few months before, to fight with their front direct- 
ed towards their own country instead of that be- 
li>ngiiig to their foes. 

Bennigsen however became acquiiintcd with this 
■-rheme of Napoleon by an intercepted despatch. 
He consequently altered his intention of proceeding 
ugainst Ney and Bernadotte, who were manoeuvev- 
ing to decoy him to his ruin. On the contrary Ite 

K 



110 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

acted in such a manner, that without coming to any 
serious engagement, the French troops were eter- 
nally harassed by marches and counter marches, 
amid a country at all times difficult, and now^ cover- 
ed with a deep snow. They were also constantly 
assailed by the Cossacks; the Scythian lances meet- 
ing them at every turn. For the indefatigable vigi- 
lance and tuni for stratagem, exibited by the fol- 
lowers of Platoff, were an overmatch, even for the 
light troops of France; whose audacity was sensibly 
curbed by these wairiors of the Don. 

The plan of the Russian chief was one, well cal- 
culated to thwart the designs of his foe. Far from 
their resources, the French were certain to suffer 
much from delay; and if the Russian commissariat 
had allowed the system to have been continued, as 
in 1812, Buonaparte would have found it less easy to 
bring the contest to an end. Such however was by 
no means the case. Au eye witness, (Sir Robert 
Wilson,) has informed the world, that, at the time 
of which we are treating, the Russian army was de- 
stitute of all regular bu))plies. The troops, at this 
inclement season, had no resource but to prowl 
about, and dig up the hoards of provision, concealed 
by the peasants. This labour, in addition to their 
military duties, almost deprived tlicni of all rest, 
and when they did lie down, they had no couch but 
the snow, no shelter but the wintry clouds, no co- 
vering but their rags. Hence their distresses soon 
became intolerable; and Bennigsen was compelled 
to fight that their misery might terminate in victc- 
17 or death. 



WAPOLBON BUONAPARTE. Ill 

Contrary then to his own judgment, but compcU 
led by circumstances, the Russian leader concen- 
trated his forces at Prussian Rijlauy determined to 
await, in that position, the attack of Napoleon.-— 
Some severe skirmishes occurred during the pre* 
gress of the army towards that place, in which 
prince Bagration particularly distinguished himself. 
At length, however, the Russian army reached 
the desired point, and marching through the town, 
(Prussian Eylau,) took up a position in its rear. It . 
was the intention of Rcnnigscn to hold possession of 
the place itself, and he had issued orders to that ef- 
fect; but from some mistake, these orders were not 
carried into execution, and the town was wholly 
evacuated by the retreating aiTny. When this 
oversight was discovered, a Russian division whs 
forthwith ordered to re-occupy the village; but up- 
on their advancing with that intention, they found 
it already in pessession of the French. These were 
quickly driven out by a determined charge of the 
Muscovite soldiers, who had however hardly re- 
gained possession, when they were themselves ex- 
pelled by anew division of the French, sent by Buo- 
naparte for that purpose. As Bcnnigsen was par- 
ticularly desirous to hold tlie place, until his heavy 
artillery (advancing in another direction) had join- 
ed the army, he ordered a fresh attack upon the 
disputed post ; and the French were once more 
compelled to retire, by the vigorous onsets of the 
Russian legions, who entered the town with drums 
beating. But the place being wholly unprotected 
by vrorks of any kind, the French occupied the 



112 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

broken grounds, •which skirt its boundaries, and 
threw into the streets so terrible a fire, that the 
Russians were again obliged to evacuate it, and al- 
low it to remain with their opponents. Night now 
arrived tn separate the combatants, who hastened 
to make preparations for the yet more obstinate 
contest, that was destined to mark the succeeding 
day. 

The twb armies were at length in presence of 
each other; apparently determined upon a trial of 
strength. It had ever been the custom of Napoleon 
to bring his opponent to decisive action, at the very 
earliest moment, which circumstances allowed; and 
he had been prevented from pursuing his usual 
course in the pres»nt occasion only by the severity 
of the season and the manoeuvres of his opponent, 
who wished for delay. Now however the enemy 
■were at hand; and inferior as they were in numbers 
as well as in many other respects to the army un- 
der his command, Buonaparte might reasonably 
expect a victoiy, that would relieve him from his 
somewhat unpleasant, if not perilous, situation, and 
enable him to command a peace, as he had done at 
^Marengo and Austerlitz. 

But still circumstances were not altogether the 
same. The battle of Pultusk, inconsiderable as it 
was, comparatively, considered, had served to in- 
fuse into the Russian army a spirit of determination, 
that induced them to look upon the coming battle 
with a feeling, allied to hope. They resolved at all 
events to act, so as to do honour to their country; 
even though their want of numbers, or of skill. 



iJAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. * 113 

.hould render them too weak to defend efFeotually 
her invaded frontier. 

As we have stated, the Russian position was in 
the rear of the town of Prussian Eylau; their centre 
being opposite to that place. This part of their ar- 
my was greatly strengthened to prevent its being 
penetrated by columns, proceeding from the town. 
Their left wing rested upon the village of Scrpal- 
len; while their right, much weakened by the un- 
usually large force, placed in the centre, was com- 
pelled to rely for support upon the Prussian divi- 
sion of L'Estocq, immediately expected in its rear. 
The French were posted opposite their opponents; 
also expecting a reinforcement, in the division of 
Ney, Avhich had not yet arrived, but was advancing 
on the extreme left of its own army. 

The eventful battle of Eylau, as it was common- 
ly termed, commenced with the rising sim, on the 
Sth of February, 1807. Two strong columns of the 
French advanced with the purpose cf turning the 
Russian right and piercing their centre at tlie same 
time. In both objects they were completely defeat- 
ed; retreating in great disorder from the heavy and 
sustained fire of the Russian guns. An attack, 
made by the same army on the left, met with no 
greater success; all parts of the Russian force — in- 
fantry, cavalry and artillery — exhibiting a firmness 
which did them the greatest honour. Towards 
mid-day a heavy snow-storm that blew in the face 
of the Russians, aided by the smoke, rolling along 
the line from the burning village of Serpallcn, caus^.- 
t^ a temporary confusion. Under the obscurity, 



114 LIPE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

occasioned by it, six columns of French attempted 
to penetrate the position of their opponents. But 
Bcnnigscn bringing up the reserves in person, they 
•were drixen back witli great slaughter and at the 
point of the bayonet. An entire regiment of cuiras- 
siers, wliich liad passed thi-ougli an interval of the 
Russian line, being annihilated by a charge of Cos- 
s-^cks; only 18 men escaped from the destructive 
attack. 

Victory now seemed to declare for the Russians. 
But as usual. Napoleon was endeavouring to obtain 
by manceuvrcs, what courage alone was unable to 
effect. Davoust, Avho, from the beginning of the 
action, had been attempting to turn the left and 
ejain the rear of his opponent's position, now ap- 
peared upon the field of battle with a sudden and 
fatal effect, Serpallen, or what remained from the 
conflagration, was lost; the Russian left wing was 
thrown into disorder as also a portion of the centre, 
and were compelled to fall back, so as to form al- 
most at right angles with the right wing and such 
part of the centre as continued to maintain its ori- 
ginal positicn. 

At this crisis, and when the French were on the 
point of gaining the enemies' rear, the PruRsiana 
appeared upon the field. Pressing into action with 
a vigour and determination, which they have since 
so frequently imitated, and which so well became 
the soldiers of the great Frederick, they soon restor- 
ed the fortunes of the day. Their gallant and loyal 
commander led them forward with a skill and ef- 
fect, that will always do houour to the name cf 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 11*; 

L'Estocq. Reserving their fire till within a few 
paces, the Prussian battalibns threw it in with the 
most destructive effect ; an effect that was rendered 
complete by a charge with the bayonet, which in\- 
mcdiately succeeded. Tlie heretofore victorious 
columns of Bcmadottc and Davoust were driven 
back. 

Not yet, however, was the battle at an end. 
Ney, in the meanwhile, had appeared upon the 
field and occupied Schloditten, a village on the road 
to Konigsberg, and in the rear of the Russians. It 
was thought therefore necessary to regain posses- 
sion; and, though it was 10 o'clock at night, the 
brave soldiers of Bennigsen closed the engagement 
by carrying it by storm. 

Thus terminated the contest of Prussiai\ Kylau. 
A battle the most severely contested and by far the 
least successful in which "Napoleon had been yet en- 
gaged. J^^fty thousand men had perished in the 
field, and the Frcncli had only been able to retire 
to the positions, occupied by their army previous to 
its commencement. Their loss greatly exceeded 
that of their opponents; while, for the first time in a 
general engagement, Buonaparte had left it doubt- 
ful whether he was a conqueror or not. 

Great however as was the loss of the French, and 
deep the mortification of their emperor, the situa- 
tion of the Russians was also deplorable in the ex* 
treme. They had, it is true, repulsed the encniy 
on the field of battle, but another enemy was assail- 
ing their army, which ever their courage was una- 
ble to repulse. Want, that, among other causes, had 



il6 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

induced Bennigsen to engage, threatened to be nioro 
fatal than the assaults of the Fi-ench. Provisions 
were now entirely exhausted, and ammunition was 
beginning to inin low; so that it was determined, af- 
ter a consultation, held on horseback upon the field 
of battle, to retreat towards Konigsberg. L'Estocq 
and some of the Russian generals advised indeed ar. 
attack the next morning; but in a full view of his 
situation, the commander-in-chief resolved to re- 
tire. The various corps therefore quitted th^ scene 
of strife during the night, with the exception of the 
division, under count Osterman. That general tra- 
versed the field of battle, opposite Prussian Eylau, 
the next driy, witliout enctmntcring any molestation 
from the French, who still held possession of the 
town. 

In their published accounts, both parties claimed 
the victory. The Russians boasted that they had 
repulsed the enemy in eveiy direction; the fighting, 
as they alleged, having terminated generally to the 
disadvantage of the French. Twelve Imperial 
eagles were also in their possession; an evidence of 
success, that no army had before been able to dis- 
play in its contcbts with Buonaparte. While, for 
several days after the engagement, the Cossacks 
scoured the country, in all directions, bringing in 
great numbers of French prisoners. On the other 
hand, the French interpreted the retreat of the 
Russians into an acknowledgment of defeat; and 
appealed to their own possession of the dead and 
■VV'ounded as the usual testimonials of success. 

But the subsequent proceedings of the Frcncli 



WAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 117 

rmpf ror best spoke his real sense of the rcs\ilt of 
the battle. Four days after its close, he proposed 
an armistice to the king of Prussia; and that upon 
terms which Frederick William would have gladly 
accepted, even before the surrender of his principal 
fortresses to the arms of France. It was indeed in- 
timated to him, that, if he were disposed to enter 
into a separate treaty, all his dominions should be 
speedily restored. Both the armistice and the 
peace were however declined by the Prussian mo- 
narch, who would not treat, except in coiijunction 
with the czar. Their being offered by a general^ 
who had always been accustomed to grant, and not 
to propose, such accomodations formed a striking 
indication of his opinion as to the resistance he had 
met. His inactivity after the battle, (for he remain- 
ed 8 days without any movement of consequence,) 
also demonstrated the seriousness of his \oss and his 
own sense of the critical position, in which he was 
placed. 

Instead of driving the Russians behind the Prc- 
gel, as he lind threatened previous to the action, he 
himself retired, on the 19th of Ftbruan', towards 
the Vistula. For seeming to think that it would be 
dangerous to continue the campaign against such 
sturdy opponents, as he had now discovered the 
Russians to be, while so many fortresses, (and es- 
pecially Dantzic,) were yet unsubdued, he deter- 
mined to attempt the reduction of these, before he 
tried his fortune once more in the field. 



118 LIFE AND CAMPAIONH OF 



CHAPTER XIV. 

i^ege of Bantzk — recommencement of the campaign — 
affair at Heilsberg — hatile of Friedland — peace of Til- 
sit — its nature and the consequent situation of Europe. 

Indeed nothing but an assurance of victory could 
justify Napoleon in advancing against the Russians, 
•while so strong a town as Dantzic remained in the 
hands of the foe. For should he meet with a»y se- 
rious reverses, in his encounters with the legions of 
Alexander, and experience warned him that such 
a result miglit possibly occur, the possession of that 
place by an enemy would put his army in a very 
precarious situation. Honce it became the deter- 
mination of Buonaparte to attempt immediately the 
reduction of a fortress, which was in many resptcts 
calculated to have an Important bearing on the fate 
of the campaign. 

Dantzic, at the period we are treating of, was one 
of the strongest places in Europe. The garrison, 
commanded by general Kalkreuth, a Prussian offi- 
cer of distinguished reputation, was very strong; 
and as it was expected the English would sent a 
fleet and army to its relief, early in the spring, its 
gallant governor resolved to defend his charge to 
the very last extremity. The season however pre- 
vented t!\e arrival of the expected succour; while 
flie assaults of the French, conducted with equal 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. il9 

skill, perseverance, and boldness, rapidly reduced 
the defences of the place. Kalkreuth nevertheless 
managed to prolong his resistance, till the trenches 
had been opened 52 days. At length, all hope of 
relief being wholly gone, he surrendered, towards 
the close of May, 1807. 

In noticing the siege of this celebrated fortress 
and its brave defence, we cannot but remark, that, 
if the other Pmssian towns had been equally main- 
tained, it is probable. Napoleon would never have 
reached the Polish tcmtory; or if he had, the spi- 
rit, engendered among the Prussians and the Ger- 
mans in general, by such bold and lengthened de- 
fences, would have rendered his position extremely 
Qnpleasant, if not imminently unsafe. 

During the progress of this siege, Buonapaite had 
made every exertion, not only to recmit his losses, 
but also to place his strength in so imposing an at- 
titude, as that he should be able, in all probability, 
to bring the war to a triumphant conclusion. Rein- 
forcements of all kinds, and from every country be- 
neath his controul, hastened to swell an aiTny, that 
had been much reduced, and somewhat puzzled, 
by the battles of Pultusk and Prussian Eylau. Ita 
lians, Swiss and Poles, with levies from the various 
states, belonging to the confederation cf the Rhine, 
were ranged under the banners of this political 
"Peter the Hermit." While a new conscription in 
the Imperial territories, (being an anticipation ot 
that for 1808,) filled his ranks with the youth of 
France, The fall of Dantzic moreover enabled him 
tb augment his army in the field, by placing at his 



120 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

disposal the 25,000 veterans, who had been engaged 
in the siege. So that, upon the whole, he was able 
to recommence offensive operations with an army 
of 280,000 men, assembled, and in arms, between 
the Vistula and the Memcl, 

Far different was the aniiy which Bennigsen was 
enabled to collect. He had indeed received rein- 
forcements, but they scarcely made up the losses 
■which a winter campaign, including two severe 
battles, had necessarily occasioned. His utmost 
available force for actual operations did not amount 
to one hundred thousand men. 

Still the Russians became the assailants, on the 
recommencement of hostilities. Their army made 
a combined movement against the division of mar- 
shal Ney, stationed at Gutstadt and its vicinity, and 
drove them as far as Deppen, where some sharp 
fighting cccurcd. But on the 8th of June, Napoleon 
in person advanced to the relief of his general; 
when Bennigsen, in his turn, was forced to retire, 
hard pressed by the grand French army. Indeed, 
but for a charge, or an hourra, as they term it, 
made by the Cossacks upon the advancing columns 
of the French, the Russian army would probably 
have been thrown into inextricable confusion. 

On arriving at Heilsberg, Bennigsen determined 
to make a stand. For this purpose, he concentrat- 
ed his forces at that place, and the ctmsequence 
was a severe action. Overpowered by numbers, 
the Russians were compelled to quit the level 
grouncj and retire to their position on .the hights, 
which they continued to defend with great perse- 



NAPOLBON BUONAPARTB. 121 

verance and gallantry. The French, on their part, 
made equally strenuous efforts to drive them from 
the post. Time after time was the combat renew- 
ed; but the brillant valour of the assailants could 
make no effectual impression upon the obstinate 
bravery of the Muscovite soldiers. The battle last- 
ed till midnight without any marked success; and 
the ground, intervening between the positions of 
the belligerent armies, presented the next morning 
an actual covering of dead bodies. 

After this severe engagement, the Russians were 
allowed to continue their retreat without molesta- 
tion; and they proceeded forthwith to place the Al- 
Icr between themselves and the army of Napoleon. 
It was evidently the true policy of their chief to 
protract the war; not only because he was much 
weaker than his opponent, but also because he had 
reason to believe that large reinforcements were on 
the way to join his army. He accordingly, (as we 
have stated,) withdrew the whole of his forces to 
the right bank of the river, we have first named, 
with the exception of some detachments of cavalry, 
left on the opposite side, for the sake of watching 
the foe. 

On the 13th of June, Bennigsen took up a position 
at Friedland, a town, situated on the western side 
of the AUer, and communicating with the other 
bank by means of a long wooden bridge. The main 
part of his army was however on the eastern (or 
right) side; but Napoleon, who had arrived in the 
vicinity, endeavoured to decoy the enemy over the 
bridge, that he might engage them in a general 

L 



l}& urn AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

battle, where retreat and destiniction, would, in all 
probability, be equivalent terms. 

With this view, Buonaparte displayed only a 
sjnall part of his force; the woods, that almost sur- 
rounded, and came down to the town, enabling him 
to manoeuvre and conceal his forces, exactly as he 
desired. Bcnnigscn, deceived by his stratagem, 
thought the force, opposed to him, consisted only of 
the division of Oudinot, which had been severely 
handled in the affair at Heilsberg. He accordingly 
hoped that he should now be able to complete its 
destruction. Entertaining this delusive impression, 
the Russian leader ordered a division to cross the 
bridge, march through the town, and commence 
the attack. This was what Napoleon eamegtly 
desired, but what he could hardly have ventured to 
expect. When then the Russian detachment pro- 
ceeded to execute the orders, they had received, 
he caused his own forces to act in such a manner, 
as to confirm the delusion of Bcnnigsen, who con- 
tinued to bring reinforcements across tlic bridge, in 
the hope of overwhelming a division, whioh was 
able, (through the cover, afforded by the woods,) 
to receive constant, though unperceivcd, support. 
Till in the end the Russian commander had brought 
all his army to the western side of the river and 
found himself posted in front of the town of Fried- 
land, in face (as he supposed) of a comparatively 
small portion of the French forcea. 

But no sooner had he completed this irremedi- 
able proceeding, than the scene was changed, or, 
rather, the mask was dropped. The French batta- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. l4^ 

lions began to display themselj-es in solid masses — 
cannon were brought into p^ition and Bennigse» 
became convinced, from th^ report of prisoners, as 
as well as from the appearance of things, that he 
was opposed to the Grand armyy under Napoleon 
in person. With his comparatively small force, he 
"was entangled in a situation, where to remain, re- 
treat or advance seemed equally unsafe. He found 
himself fully enveloped in the snare, which the 
skill of Buonaparte had planted for his destruction. 
But he determined, at all events, toJii;ht. Unlike 
Mack, when similary outgeneralled at Ulm, he 
rcsolred that his enemy should have a dear-bought, 
though ke were to obtain a total victory. Resolv- 
ing, like a brave soldier, to die with his compa- 
nions, sooner than betray them to the foe. 

Buonaparte perceiving the success of his manoeu- 
vre resolved to commence the attack. The French 
advanced for that purpose ab'-ut 10 o'clock; the 
broken ground and wooded country enabling them 
te relax or renew their efforts as circumstances re- 
quired. Covered by the forest, they could act un- 
seen, and strengthen or weaken a point, with'-ut 
the alteration being perceived by the foe. Where- 
as, the Russian army being entirely exposed, every 
movement was known immediatly to the enemy, 
who were thus enabled to counteract its intended 
effect. The Russians nevertheless maintained the 
unequal contest with distinguished braver\', and 
without any marked success on either side, till four 
in the afternoon. 

At that hour, Napoleon broujht up his numeroO^i 



124 LIPB ANB CAMPAIGNS OP 

reserves in person, determined to exert, in one 
great effort, the rifet superiority of force which 
was at his command. Columns of great depth, and 
corresponding power, nearly surrounded the Rus- 
sian army, which seemed almost enveloped in a 
forest of glittering steel. From all quarters, caval- 
ry, infantry, and artillery pressed towards the de- 
voted host, animating each other with shouts of 
certain victory. While the army of Bennigsen, al- 
ready reduced by the loss of 12,000 men, had to 
attempt the most difficult perhaps of all military 
operations, a retreat, through narrow and encum- 
bered defiles, in face of a superior foe. 

The main attack was directtrd against ^le Rus- 
sian left, that part of their position offering greater 
facilities to the assailing columns. This assault was 
momentarily resisted; but in a short peri"d, the 
overwhelming force of the French compelled the 
whole wing to rush into the town and ci'owd the 
bridge aftd pontoons (which offered the onjv way 
for retreat) in indescribable confi'sion. Indeed, 
but for the devoted heroism of the Russian Imperial 
guard, the whole had perished For they were 
closely and persevcringly pursued by the French, 
who exhibited a boldness -md determination that 
would have insured their destruction. But the van 
of these pursuing columns, under Ncy, being char- 
ged by the guards, with tempi lary success, a part 
of the fugitives of the left wing were enabled to es- 
cape over the bridge; biit that, and the pontoons, 
being set on fire, to prevent their falling into pos- 
session of the French, the greater part were com- 



KAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 125 

pelied to venture through a ford, discovered at tbr. 
moment of their defeat. 

The left wing being thus entirely dispersed, the 
•entre and righf of the Russian army retired from 
the field by a circuitous route. Unable to pass the 
river at Friedland, on account of the destruction of 
the bridge and the occupation of the town by the 
French, they were forced to seek some other place, 
•whereby to regain their own side of the Aller. 
And, like the left wing, they discovered a ford 
at the very moment of extremity: upon which tlicir 
danger induced them to venture, though tlic infan- 
tiT had to wade through breast high, and the am- 
munition, yet remaining in the tumbrels, was com- 
pletely destroyed. 

The whole, however, effected a passage; and, 
boing united once more on the right bank, pro- 
ceeded in their retreat by way of Wehlau. Amid 
the calamities, attendant on their defeat, they ma- 
naged to preserve the baggage, and cannon also, 
with the exception of 17 pieces. Indeed their ob- 
stinate defence, in the unfavorable position, into 
which they had been led by the stratagem of Na- 
poleon, seems to have paralizcd the efforts of that 
great commander. Contrary to his usual custom, 
he satisfied himself with the possession of the field 
of battle, and allowed Bennigsen to rally his broken 
forces without molestation. So that the battle of 
Friedland, agreeably to the expression of a French 
general, was a victory lost, though it was a battle 
■won. 

Vet the ccnscqucnces of the affair were all that 

I. 2 



aaC LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Buonaparte could have desired. The Pmssiansi 
finding their allies could no longer defend the re- 
mainder of their territon', immediately evacuated 
Konigsberg; while the emperor Alexander became 
disposed towards peace, when he saw the victorious 
French about to penetrate the frontier of his own 
dominions. Nor was Napoleon indisposed for an 
accommodation. Finding that after so many bloody, 
and yet indecisive, engagements, he was still but 
upon the borders of a vast empire, wh^se warriors 
had taught him that lie was not invincible, he 
thought it prudent not to press their head to an im- 
conditional submission, especially as the En.^lish 
and Swedish forces were expected to commence 
operations immediately in the rear of hir. arv.ty; 
and that, too, among a population hostile to his 
views, and exasperated by the forced exactions and 
compulsary levies which had been made by his 
command. 

Circumstances had tliur. rendered each of the 
belligerents desirous of peace. Disappointment 
and anger influenced the Russian emperor; while 
partial success and an apprehension respecting his 
rear had induced Napoleon to consent to an armi- 
stice. This aiTnistice, concluded on the 23d of 
June, was soon followed by a peace between the 
three powers. The negotiations, which preceded 
it, were, however, distinguished for a deviation 
from the usual course of similar proceedings. They 
were not conducted by the ministers of France, 
Russia and Prussia, but by the sovereigns in per- 
son. For this purpose the town of Tilsic was made 



JTAPOLEtoN BtJONAFARTK. 12^ 

neutral; and the three courts became established, 
and blended for the moment in a small village. 
Entertainments were given both between the mo- 
narchs and their officers; and they who for months 
had been drenching; the snow with each other's blood 
were suddenly converted into apparent friends.—. 
Indeed the two emperors became as intimate as 
brothers; and it is said, that now, for the first 
time. Napoleon entertained an intention of divor- 
cing himself from Josephine, and connectinj^ him- 
self bv marnage with one of the royal houses of 
Europe. Rumour even declares that Alexander 
ayj;reed to give him his sister at this time; but that 
the opposition of the empress-mother, and, per- 
haps, an abatement of his own admiration for the 
great military leader afterwards led him to refuse 
the alliance. A proceeding that induced Napoleon 
subsequently to call him the Greek; meaning there- 
by to term him a trickster or deceiver. 

Whether the French emperor did entertain any 
views of this sort or not, it is certain that the terms 
obtained by Russia in the treaty of Tilsit were of a 
very favorable kind. By the open articles, she was 
allowed a considerable extension of territoiy, at the 
exfiense of Prussia; while by the secret part of the 
agreement, it is now understood, she was to be al- 
lowed to make that attack upon Sweden, which 
soon eventuated in the separation of Fmland from 
the latter power, and its annexation to the Russian 
•empire. This was an object of gi*eat desire with 
the head of the Russian government. Finland 
'Stretches nearly to St. Petersburg, and, in passes- 



AJS LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

sion of a hostile power, it places an enemy within 
a short march of the capital itself. On all previous 
occasions, it had been the plan, as it was the true 
policy ci France, to support Sweden against the 
nevei^dyinii: ambition of her great neiejhbour; but 
now, she deserted the beaten track, and allowed 
Russia to obtain a territory that consolidated her 
power, and gave lier very increased means of resist- 
ing Napoleon himself on a subsequent occasion. A 
course so hostile to tlie real interest and accustomed 
pratice, of the French government, was frequently 
attributed to an expectation, on the part of the em- 
peror, of a matrimonial alliance xvith the house of 
Alexander. Indeed the circumstances of the case 
will admit of hardly any other solution of the rea- 
son, why Russia obtained such favorable terms. 

Far different were those imposed upon Prussia. 
Frederick William was indeed admitted to the con- 
ferences which led to the treaty of Tilsit, and the 
entertainments that accompanied the negotiations. 
But he was not treated with the kindness, or ad- 
mitted to the equality, granted to Alexander by the 
emperor of the French. In ti-uth, it was rather as 
the friend of the former, than as an independent 
sovereign, that he was allowed a share in the bu- 
siness that was transacted. By the ajrangement 
concluded between the three monarchs, Prussia 
•was reduced to a secondary power. All the ter- 
ritory, acquired by the arms or the diplomacy of 
the Great Frederick, was cut off and given to the 
allies, or generals, of France. The part of Poland, 
given to Prufj^ia hv \hc. iniquitoits partition of tha^ 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. IM 

country, in 1772, was formed into a separate, but 
not an independent, state. This new state was cull- 
ed the **Great Duchy of Warsaw,'* and given to 
the elector (now raised to the title of king) of Sa- 
xony. So that the deceived and ill-treated Poles, 
■with their accustomed bad foitune, were merely 
transferred from one sovereign to another, and that 
too without their own wishes being at all consulted 
in the affair. They might perhaps be benefitted 
by the exchange; but tliis arose from no considera- 
tion of their situation, or desires, in the negotiations 
of Tilsit. They were transftrrcd like a flock of 
sheep to a new keeper; and if they experienced 
any advantage from the alteration, it was caused 
by the personal feelings of the Saxon sovereign, or 
those of the administration, he established at War- 
saw. Prussia was further humiliated b> being com- 
pelled to all )W a military road to be carried througk 
her territory in order that tlie new Cirand Duke 
might have an uninterrupted and good commu- 
nication, between his Saxon and his Polish domi- 
nions. In short the conquered country had to drink 
deep in the cup of degradation; a pr'^ccdure that;, 
added to the conduct of the French during their oc- 
cupation, gave rise to the deep hatred, yet existing 
botvvr^cn the PtTissians and that v<jlatile people. 

Bv the treaty of Tilsit, Danfzic was made a free 
city, under the protecti'^n of Pvuss'a and S^xony. 
But as Napoleon was nnwillig to resign the posses- 
si'>n of a place, so well calculated to be of use to 
him in case of any futui-e war wi'h his present al- 
Tiee, the sovereigns erf Ruaeia and Prussia, he caused 



13d LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

it to be stipulated that this free city should continue 
to be garrisoned by French troops, till the conclu- 
rsion of a maritime peace. 

As a matter of course, the Russian and Prussian 
sovereigns ratified all the changes Buonaparte had 
made in Europe. They acknowledged the thrones 
he had erected; and agreed to the leagues, formed 
by him either to increase, or sustain, his authority. 
Thus confirming the mighty alterations, produced 
by the French revolution; and legitimatizing the 
still greater changes which the sway of Napoleon 
had served to bring about 

Such were the general results, or published con- 
ditions, of the celebrated treaty, that closed the 
war between France and Russia, in 1807. There is 
good reason however to believe that several secret 
articles were agreed upon, at the seme time, be- 
tween the two gi'cat powers of the North and South. 
We have already noticed that which allowed Russia 
to take a vast slice irr>m the dominions of Sweden; 
and it seems that the ambitious schemes of the 
former nation, in the direction of Turkey, were to 
be winked at by tlie powerful Napoleon. On the 
other hand, Russia covenanted that the "Conti- 
nental system," that favourite measure of Buona- 
parte, should be extended throughout her domi- 
nions. Alexander also agreed to revive, and put 
himself at the head of, what was termed, the * 'arm- 
ed Neutrality;" a plan some time before adopted 
by the Northern powers to crush the maritime 
claims of England, but which had been terminated 
by the victory of Copenhagen and the death of the 

# 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE m 

infatuated Paul. These measures,— the continen- 
tal system, and the armed Neutrality being insisted 
upon by the emperor of the French, in order to 
destroy the only power in Europe that continued to 
defy his menaces and controul his sway. 

With the signature of the treaty of Tilsit, all ap- 
pearance of opposition to France totally disappear- 
ed. The English armament, that had been destin- 
td to co-operate with a Swedish force, in the rear 
of Napoleon, returned to its native country; and tWe 
king of Sweden retired to the dominions, he was 
soon afterwards to lose. The congress, that had 
led to the arrangements, we have briefly described, 
broke up on the 9th of July; the two emperors 
parting with every appearance of perfect recon- 
ciliation, if not of confirmed respect. Buonaparte 
immediately directed his steps towards France. On 
his way he was met, at Bautzen, (so noted after- 
wards in his history,) by Augustus, the Hew Saxon 
monarch; who received him with the respectful 
gratitude which the augmented territory and higher 
rank, just conferred upon him by the friendship of 
Napoleon, were calculated to inspire. After the 
interview, the French emperor proceeded on his 
journey towards the capital of his dominions; every 
where meeting a reception suitable to the dignity 
of his situation, the brilliancy of his victories, and 
the vastness of his power. 

On the 27th of July, he received the homage of 
the French Senate in the palace of St. Cloud. On 
this occasion, the orator, (the celebrated naturalist 
Lacepede,) appointed to deliver its congratulations. 



132 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

found himself at a loss for language, adequate to 
declare the glory of the hero, he had been directed 
to address. Indeed at the moment we are referring 
to, the subject of our memoir may justly be con- 
sidered as having arrived at the summit both of his 
glory and his power. Victory after victory had re- 
duced the whole continent of Europe beneath his 
controul. It is true the forms of independence 
remained with several governments; but from the 
rock of Lisbon to the frozen capital of the Czars, 
the virtual authority now rested in the palace of 
St. Cloud. England alone remained to breast his 
hostility, and England ho now determined to de- 
stroy. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 133 



CHAPTER XV. 

Situation of Buonaparte — his conduct — domestic (idmi- 
nistration-puhlic improvements-— national education--' 
seizure of Portugal by the Fr enchant erf erence of 
Napoleon in Spanish affairs. 

If we stop for a moment to contemplate the situ- 
ation of Buonaparte, at the close of the year 1807, 
wc shall be struck, with astonishment at the magni- 
tude of the triumphs, he had achieved, and the 
vastness of the authority, which, in so few years, 
he had managed to acquire. But if we carry for- 
ward our observation, and view him, within eight 
years, a prisoner at St. Helena, and then consider 
what he had done in the mean time, either ior his 
own glory, or the welfare of his people, we shall 
be filled with son-ow that he entirely misdirected 
his efforts, and allowed his unrivalled opportunities 
for the acquisition of a just and lasting renown to 
steal away unimproved. Not that this great man, 
or rather this great general, did nothing worthy of 
approbation, during the period to which we are 
now directing the attention of the reader. The 
subject of regret is, that with unparalleled means 
and opportunity for the perfection of much good, 
he did so little, that we must seek it, if we seek it 
at all, as we would a grain of seed in a whole heap 
of chnff 

M 



134 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Upon his return from concluding the peace of 
Tilsit, Napoleon directed his attention to the inr 
temal situation of his extended empire. But in- 
stead of doing this, with -a view to the establishment 
of a system of a govermcnt, in which the peofile 
should possess a reasonable share, his aim appears 
to have been to curtail the limited portion of it, 
which he had previously been induced to leave in 
their possession. The necessity, which existed on 
his first induction into authority, for the suppression 
t)f the disorders and passions, created by the Revo- 
lution, exempts him from all reasonable censure, 
as to the arbitrary nature of his administration in 
the commencement of his career. His victories over 
both his internal, and external, competitors, will 
not allow us to offer a similar excuse for the abridg-- 
ment of the liberties of the people, which he now 
proceeded to effect. For the good or evil of the 
well regulated, but complete despotism, which he 
deliberately and calmly established, as the mle of 
his government, his character will be answerable 
to the latest posterity. France indeed, misled (as 
is too usual with her,) by illusions of military glor\, 
received even slavery with acclamation; but with 
the termination of her successes, terminated also 
her admiration of the scheme of government, creat- 
. ed by the ambition of her emperor, and maintained 
alone by the power of his name. 

It ought not, however, to be overlooked, that 
with his political tyranny. Napoleon coupled the 
establishment of a civil Code that will do honour to 
his character, when his victories shall be almost for- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 135 

gotten by mankind. The **Codc A'a/ioleoUy" as it 
was then termed, and as it ought still to be termed, 
was a boon conferred, by the persevering encou- 
ragement of the emperor to the efforts of his law- 
yers upon the people of France, They who are best 
able to appreciate its ments, have declared its ex- 
cellence; and we feel unmixed satisfaction in noti- 
cing its creation, as one of the bright spots that oc- 
cur in the career of him a knowledge of whose me- 
moirs, we are endeavoring to extend. 

Various departments of internal administration 
also attracted the attention of Napoleon, during the 
present cessation of his military exploits. The 
foreign commerce of the country having been al- 
most annihilated, through the naval superiority of 
his pnncipal enemy, he now endeavored by various 
regulations to increase the domestic trade. Un- 
usual encouragements were offered to each branch 
of the H me Manufactures, in the hope that the 
want of English articles, experienced upon the con- 
tinent, through his prohibitory decrees, might be 
supplied with French goods. New articles were in- 
vented to fill the place of those, cut off from con- 
sumption by the war or rather by the system of Buo- 
naparte himself. Sugar no longer obtainable from 
the colonies, was made from Beet root, and nothing 
became so pleasing to the emperor, for the moment, 
as the production of some new substitute for articles 
usually obtained from the British or other foreign 
trade. But as the encouragement given to these 
new manufactures, was rather of an artificial de- 
scription, and as the English goods continued, in a. 



136 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

great degree to be obtained, notwithstanding all 
prohibitions, little success appears to have attended 
his endeavouring in this respect. In fact, the re- 
sults, as yet ascertained, appear to have been de- 
cidedly injurious to France. For as these artifi- 
cially-encouraged manufactures were too extensive 
to be sacrificed, at once, on the return of peace, 
the country has been induced to foster a system of 
exclusion, with respect to foreign trade, that seems 
to have seriously injuried the ancient and main de- 
partments of French industry, without conferring 
any commensurate advantage upon those, in favour 
of which the prohibitions have been made. 

Immense public works were also resorted to, 
either to dazzle or employ the French people. 
Both objects were perhaps in the view of Napoleon 
in many of his undertakings; and his road over the 
Simplon and the Basins of Anttocrfi were certainly 
calculated to effect the two. In general however, it 
must be confessed that his labours, in the way of it^- 
ternal improvement, were rather of a grand than a 
useful description, and that he sought to please the 
imagination, rather than improve the situation of 
the people beneath his controul. 

In fact, the mind of Napoleon was so essentially 
given to military, or political affairs, that he en- 
gaged it on other occupations, rather for amusement 
than design. War was the business of his life, and 
he assuredly was a master in the trade; every thing 
therefore partaking of a civil character was viewed 
by him as a relaxation from the accustomed course 
of his existence. Hence it arose, that most of his 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 137 

acts, other than thosa which related to military or 
political subjects, bore evident marks of the haste 
with which they were adopted. Few of them but 
show they were decided upon, without that tho- 
rough examination of the whole case, which is ab- 
solutely essential to a full understanding, and con- 
sequently to a right decision of civil affairs. Or 
if he did examine, the subjects presented for his 
consideration, the ruling passion of his mind led 
him to a false conclusion. Thus public education j 
which ought to be directed to the communication 
of information, calculated for the use and impro- 
vement of a peaceable people, was turned by him 
into an instrument for the production and increase 
of a military spirit. Learning was communicated 
with, if not by, beat of drum. Encouragement was 
offered only to those among the youth, educated in 
his Lyceums who exhibited a turn, or inclination, 
for military affairs. His academies were intended 
to rear soldiers; and not well informed mechanics, 
industrious tradesmen, or (speaking generally) per- 
sons who were fitted, by their education, to fill re- 
spectably the various oflRces of civil life. Honour, 
distinction and renown could only be gained, in the 
French Empire^ by success in the field of battle; 
and the youth taught in the schools established by 
Napoleon, were led to suppose that these alone 
were objects, for which a Frenchman should wish 
to live, or dare to die. 

Our design, mainly directed to a relation of the 
campaigns of Buonaparte, and our limits (which 
warn us to hasten on our road) forbid us to say more 

ISI 2 



138 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

respecting the course of this distinguished sovereign 
in his domestic administration. His reputation, in- 
deed, must ever rest in the main upon his merits 
as a commander of armies; and he will be thought 
of, and noticed as a general, when the bulk of man- 
kind shall be scarcely aware that he was Emperor 
of France. 

In concluding the peace of Tilsit it appears to 
have been the view (if not the agreement) of the 
two principal parties to it, that each should be per- 
mitted to seize upon any neighbouring territory taat 
might suit their convenience or elicit their ambi- 
tion. Thus, as we have seen, Russia extcnted her 
frontiers at the expense of Sweden and Turkey, 
Nor was it long before the French emperor ex- 
hibited a desire to imitate so tempting an example, 
by first interfering with the domestic concerns, and 
then seizing upon Ihe territories of Portugal and 
Spain. 

As hov^^ever his plans were not at present so far 
matured, as to allow a display of the scheme, which 
he had probably formed some time before, for de- 
priving the Bourbons of the throne of Spain, he, in 
the commencement of his intrigues, employed the 
forces of this power in subduing her weak and un- 
offending neighbour. A joint requisition was ac- 
cordingly presented to the Prince-Regent of Portu- 
gal, from the governments of France and Spain, 
ordering him to close his ports against the com- 
merce of England, to confiscate the goods belonging 
to her merchants, and to seize upon her subjects 
wherever found in the dominions beneath his con- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 139 

troul. To the former of these demands the prince 
gave a reluctant consent; but to the last, as being 
alike contrary to treaty, and the usages of civilized 
nations, he returned a peremptory denial. Indeed 
in promulgating the order, which declared the con* 
fiscation of British property, he so ordered it that 
the owners thereof had much time for its removal 
beyond the operation of the decree. And, in truth, 
he had better have resisted all parts of the requisi- 
tion; since the parties making it, did not wait even 
for his reply, ere they concluded a treaty, or rather 
a bargain, for the partition of his kingdom. By 
this arrangement Portugal was to be divided into 
three parts^ and distributed according to the views 
of the French emperor. So that Napoleon manag- 
ed, by the plan, to secure the conquest of Lusita- 
nia; and, at the same time, employ a large body 
of the Spanish army, in a manner, that would ren- 
der them less able to defend their own institutions, 
which he had determined to subvert. 

Junot, the most rapacious of all the generals, 
produced by the revolution, twas ordered to march 
upon Lisbon, to carry into effect this iniquitous 
scheme. A scheme, by which an unoffending l)ut 
weak nation was to be blotted from the list of in- 
dependent countries, merely to gratify the passions 
or promote the delusive projects of two neighbour- 
ing powers. Two other armies, partly French, 
partly Spanish, were appointed to support the at- 
tack. While yet another French army, 40,060 
strong, was ordered to assemble at Bayonne, not 
only to I give countenance to the proceeding, but 



140 LIPE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

also to be upon the spot, when their interference 
bhould become necessary for carrying into effect 
the ulterior designs of Napoleon upon Spain itself. 

To so vigorous an attack Portugal was wholly un- 
prepared to offer any adequate resistance. The 
Prince-Regent therefore determined to afford the 
aggressors no excuse for bad conduct, during the 
occupation of his dominions, by making a defence 
what he knew to be useless. He accordingly re- 
solved to withdraw to his transatlantic territories. 
With this view he communicated afresh with the 
English fleet, blockading Lisbon, and having made 
arrangements with its commander. Sir Sydney 
Smith, he set sail for Brazil, just as the Frenck 
forces arrived in sight of his capital. Thus disap- 
pointed in a principal part of hia design, the rapa- 
cious Junot proceeded to make exactions upon the 
country of the fugitive prince, in such unusual se- 
verity, as provoved the lasting hatred of the Por- 
tuguese to the soldiers under his command. 

In the treaty by which Portugal was to be divid- 
ed, it had been agreed, that a part of it should be 
made into an independent state, and given to the 
queen of Etruria (Tuscany), in lieu of her Italian 
dominions. Godoy, the minister of Spain and also 
paramour of its infamous queen, was likwise to re- 
ceive a portion of the divided teritory. Both how- 
ever were deceived by Napoleon; the latter justly 
realizing the fate of the ass, that hunted in company 
with the monarch of the woods. The queen of 
Etruria lost her country, which was ceded to Buo- 
naparte; but with respect to her indemnification in 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 141 

Portugal, she soon discovered it to be truly a castle 
in the air. Instead (;f dividing this latter country, 
the French emperor occupied it wholly by his 
troops; and Junot, as his representative exercised 
the authority belonging to the head of the House of 
Braganza. So that, in the whole affair, it became 
apparent, there was an equal disregard of treaties 
and the obligations of good faith. 

In the mean while Buonaparte appears to have 
fostered a spirit of discord that had arisen between 
the King of Spain and the heir to his throne. Both 
parties, weak, wilful and corrupt, had appealed to 
Napoleon for the decision of the quarrels, existing 
between them. And seeming to think, or pretend- 
ing to suppose, that such an appeal gave him a 
right to interfere in the affairs of the nation, Na- 
poleon ordered the army, assembled at Baf onne, to 
enter the countiy and seize upon its principal for- 
tresses, in order to be prepared to give effect to his 
decision between the royal disputants. 

Against so unjust, and as it proved, so fatal an 
aggression upon the feelings, as well as the inde- 
pendence, of a powerful nation, Buonaparte was 
seriously advised by two of the ablest ministers, 
the revolution had produced. Talleyrand and Fou- 
che both recommended him not to attempt so dan- 
gerous a proceeding. Tlicy warned him of the 
deep, though dormant, pride of the Spanish people; 
and told him that he was raising a storm, it might 
be much easier to excite than to allay. Napoleon 
neglected their advice, and his fate was sealed. It 
is true, that success still continued to hover round 



i4si LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

his eagles, for a time, and new victories recalled a 
remembrance of Austerlitz and Marengo; but from 
the commencement of the Spanish war, he was no 
longer invincible in. the field. England was excited, 
by renewed hopes of ultimate success, to share in 
the strife upon the continent — ^her armies curbed 
the arrogance of the FrcHch commanders — and 
finally, caused the whole of Europe to rise against 
the power, and cast off the yoke, of her Imperial 
opponent. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 143 



CHAPTER XVI, 

Spirited defence of the Spanish patriois^-^ihe French 
expelled from Portugal — Buonaparte and Alexander 
meet at Erfurt — Napoleon arrives in Spain — defeat of 
the Spanish armies — retreat and death of Sir John 
Moore — ivar between Austria and France — battle of 
Eckmuhl'— -battle of Aspern — battle of Wagram—- 
peace of Schonbrun — heroic conduct of the Tyrolese, 

It is not probable the system pursued by the 
French emperor in the countries conquered by his 
arms, or cursed with his protection, could have 
been maintained for any considerable time. A plan 
by which- these provinces of his empire (virtually 
so) were burdened with imposts, drained for rC" 
cruits, and prohibited froiji the trade, essential to 
their happiness, if not to their prosperity, could 
scarcely have been prolonged beyond a few years. 
Long ere it had accomplished its object— the ruin 
of England — such a scheme must have perished 
amid the hardships it occasioned, and the irritation 
it produced. Europe would have risen en masse 
against an arrangement, which annihilated at once 
its independence, and its ease. 

Still the Spanish ivar hastened this otherwise in-- 
evitable conclusion. It proved that the people 
could successfully resist even the victorious Napo- 
leon, though their arbitrary goveniments lay crum- 



144 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

bled beneath his power. It taught the continent at 
large how to oppose the impetuous bravery of the 
Imperial legions. While, above all, it raised up a 
commander who, though he cannot justly rank on 
a par with Napoleon, all things considered, is yet 
thus far superior even to him, that he is entirely 
unacquainted with defeat. 

Much cause then as Buonaparte had to lament 
that interference in Spanish affairs which we notic- 
ed in the close of the last chapter, it probably only 
altered the manner, and somewhat hastened, the 
period of his fall. It was not, however, long after 
he commenced the operations by which he intend- 
ed to transfer the Spanish diadem from the head of 
Charles and Ferdinand, to one of his own family, 
before he discovered the difficulty of the affair. In 
vain did he decoy the old king, and his heir, within 
his power, and then persuade them to resign both 
their liberty and crown. The whole Spanish po- 
pulation rejected the alteration, and rose against 
his designs. His troops were attacked in all direc- 
tions, and though the surrender of a single French 
regiment was unknown, during all his previous 
campaigns, a whole army of 17,000 men became 
prisoners to the Spaniards in Andalusia, soon after 
the beginning of the war. His brother (Joseph) 
who had been made king of Spain, was speedily 
forced to fly from Madrid, the capital of his new 
dominions. Every town not seized by the strata- 
g;ems of the French, was heroically defended by its 
patriotic inhabitants; while Saragossa, the capital 
of Arragon, became immortalized by a defence 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 146 

unequalled perhaps in the history of mankind. As- 
sailed by a numerous and well appointed army the 
brave inhabitants resolved to perish beneath, or 
within their unfortified walls. Week after week did 
they resist the various assaults of a brave, skilful 
and well armed enemy. Street by street, house by 
house, and even room by room did these heroic citi- 
zens dispute the possession of their town. Till in 
the end, having defied alike both famine and the 
sword they were relieved by the successes of their 
brethren in other parts of the kingdom. Successes 
that caused the armies of the intrusive monarch to 
hasten their retreat towards France, in order to get 
assistance from the advancing legions of Napoleon 
himself. 

In the mean while a British army under Sir Ar- 
thur Wellesley (since Duke of Wellington) expel- 
led Junot from the kingdom of Portugal. After two 
engagements in which the English soldiers exhi- 
bited much bravery, and their leader a skill, worthy 
of his subsequent renown, Junot consented to give 
up Lisbon upon his forces being conveyed to France 
by the English fleet. 

Soon afterwards the army which had thus ex- 
pelled the French from Portugal, took up its march 
for the Spanish frontier. Considerably reinforced, 
and put under the command of Sir John Moore, 
(Sir Arthur Wellesley had been recalled to Eng- 
land to give evidence before a court of inquiry) 
it hastened to offer countenance, and aid to the nu- 
merous Spanish forces embodied for the defences 
of the nation, These forces having been supplied 



146 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Avitli arms, clothing and money by the English go^ 
vernment, in order that their patriotic endeavours 
might serve not only to maintain the independence 
of their own country, but also lay the foundation 
for the general deliverance of Europe from the yoke 
(jf France. 

Before however, we notice the result of these ef- 
forts on the part of the Spaniards, and their allies, 
it will be proper to glance at the proceedings of the 
French emperor when he learned the defeat of his 
armies in Spain, and their total expulsion from the 
neighbouring kingdom. The occurrence was with- 
out precedent in his experience; and it caused him 
to look around, ere. he poured his innumerable le- 
gions upon the Spanish territory either to revenge 
the losses he had sustained, to expel the British, or 
completely subdue the natives of the country, he 
thought it necessary to survey the state, and if pos- 
sible ascertain the temper of his nominal allies. He 
knew indeed that Austria recovering from her dis- 
asters, was delighted with his disappointments and 
tic feats. But if Russia remained true to her engage- 
iiientSj at Tilsit, he considered that he might chas,' 
tise the Spaniards and drive the English into the sea 
without interruption or alarm. It was therefore au 
especial object of his desire to -learn how the empe- 
ror Alexander was affected by recent events. 

For tills purpose he proposed tothat sovereign an 
juterview at Erfurt. The suggestion was readily 
■acceded to by the Czar, .and the two emperors ac- 
cordingly met in that town on the 27th of September, 
i808, >To dimjmitiou of friendship, or respect, was 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE:. UT 

apparent between them, during the somewhat pro- 
longed meeting at this period. Alexander professed 
acquiescence in all the proceedings of Buonaparte 
against Spain; and they parted as they had met ex- 
hibiting all outward appearance of attachment and 
esteem. There is reason, nevertheless to believe, 
that neither retired from the conference, wholly 
satisfied. The project of a matrimonial alliance 
between Napoleon and a Russian archducliess was 
resumed at the meeting and declined by Alexander. 
And though the reasons givxn for this refusal, were 
intended to prevent all ill-will on the part of Napc- 
leon, it is probable he never entirely forgave a pro- 
cedure, so calculated to wound his feelings both as 
a sovereign and as a man. 

But whatever were the true sentiments of the 
two monarchs towards each other, they parted as 
we have said, with every appearance of cordiali- 
ty and respect. Alexander returned to his capital; 
and Napoleon proceeded to head the forces which 
had been collected upon the Ebro, to ovenvhelm 
the Spanish insurgents and their British allies. 

For this purpose Buonaparte arrived at Victoria, 
the head quarters of his army, a week before the 
English commenced their march from Portugal in 
support of Spain. Celerity on the present, as on 
so many other occasions, enabling him to strike a 
fatal blow before his enemy considered the cam- 
paign as really begun. The numerous and patriotic, 
but ill discipUned and badly commanded, Spanish 
armies were successively dispersed. Blake, Bel- 
videre and Castanos. were entirely defeated; and it 



148 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

was not l©ng ere the capital itself was surrendered, 
to the gold, if not to the arms, of the French. 

All this had occurred before Sir John Moore had 
arrived upon the scene of action. Misled by false, 
or puzzled by the want of accurate information, 
that general had advanced towards Madrid with 
the intention of delaying, if not preventing its fall. 
But finding that any further advance was useless for 
such a purpose, consistent with the design which 
had breught him to Spain, he at length determined 
to retreat, A resolution wisely, but tardily adopt- 
ed; as Napoleon, who earnestly desired to add the 
Capture of a British army to his other numerous 
triumphs, was already bending his undivided at- 
tention to cut him off from the sea coast. 

Tlie situation of the English general was critical 
in the extreme. His soldiers dispirited by having 
to retreat, yet he was compelled to retire, and that 
too across a rugged country, amid the snows of win- 
ter, and before an enemj', ever alert, and now 
flushed with victory and confident of success. His 
army moreover was destitute of all regular sup- 
plies; while the population of the country, if not 
inimical to his heretic soldiers, were certainly by 
no means anxious to offer them any particular sup- 
port. 

Under these disheartening circumstances Sir John 
commenced his retreat. Kor did the anticipated 
difficulties of the march at all exceed the real hor- 
rors attendant thereupon. Order and discipline 
were lost by the dispirited regiments, nothing but 
the appearance of battle recalling the soldier to 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 149^ 

liis ranks. When indeed there seemed a chance 
of fighting, the courage of the men bore them in* 
stantly to their regular posts; habits of subordina- 
tion returned; and they were ever ready to cIosg 
their troubles by victory or death. Thus the Eng • 
lish forces several times turned upon their pui- 
suers with great effect. On the 29th December 
they defea^d a large body of the imperial cavalry; 
and general Lefebvre Desnouettes, a favourite of 
the emperor, remained a prisoner in their hands. 
But nought could prevent the French commander 
(marshal Soult) from pressing so close upon their 
rear, that a decisive victory alone could enable 
them to embark. Sir John accordingly drew up 
the remains of his army in front of Corunna; de- 
termining to obtain honor and safety for his forces 
at the bayonet's point. In this position he was at- 
tacked on the 16th January, 1809, with great gal- 
lantry by the French army. These were however 
repulsed in every attempt, and compelled to permit 
the English to embark unmolested during the suc- 
ceeding day. Sir John however sealed bis trumpli 
with his life. Calling upon the Highlanders (42d 
regiment) to remember Egypt, where they had so 
much distinguished themselves, he was mortally 
wounded by a cannon ball. In the evening he was 
buried on the ramparts of Corunna, by his sorrow- 
ing but victorious companions;,atoning by his brave- 
ry at the last for any mistake, or imperfection he 
might previously have exhibited in his valiant 
career. 
The English being expelled, and the native av- 

N 2 



150 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS QP 

mies annihilated, or dispersed, Buonaparte hasten- 
ed from Spain on his way to Paris. It is neverthe- 
less probable that he would not have left affairs 
so unsettled in the Peninsula, for Spain was far from 
subdued when her armies were repelled, but that a 
new and formidable opponent appeared upon the 
scene. Austria seemed once more disposed to dis- 
pute the authority, or resist the encroachments of 
the victorious emperor. Repeatedly conquered, she 
yet hated her conqueror; and considering the Spa- 
nish revolt as affording a favourable opportunity for 
the assertion of her rights, or the display of her ill-r 
will, she resolved again to breast the fury of the 
hero, who had so signally defeated her armies at 
Marengo and Austerlitz. 

The usual fortune of the nation attended her upon 
the present occasion. She was too late, in entering 
upon the contest, and too slow in her operations, , 
when it was actually begun. It is true her exer- 
tions exceeded all former examples, as the armies 
raised by her for the war, are said to have amount- 
ed to upwards of 500,000 men. But ere she com- 
menced hostilities the Spanish armies were defeat- 
ed, and the English though not driven into the sea, 
were very glad to seek for safety on its billows. 

The Austrians were commanded at this tirrie by 
the archduke Charles, and as in the campaign of 
Ulm, began the war by invading Germany Their 
reason for thus commencing offensive operations 
after the signal failure they experienced in a similar 
course upon the former occasion arose probably from 
a desire to seek assistance from the dissatisfaction of 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 151 

the people, composing, what was termed the con- 
federation of the Rhine. Nor can it be doubted that 
if they had found time and success, sufficient to 
justify the nations thus denominated, in raising the 
standard of revolt against France, they would not 
have experienced any disappointment in this re- 
spect. 

Far different however was the fate awaiting their 
attempts. By an activity and skill unequalled per- 
haps in any of his splendid and most successful 
campaigns, Napoleon soon dissipated the dreams 
of victory, and hopes of influence and power enter- 
tained by his opponents. A few days only from 
the commencement of the war, the Austrian army 
Avas beaten at Abensberg with considerable loss. 
And on the succeeding morning (April 21st) the 
fugitives were attacked by Napoleon in person at 
Landshut, wften they were entirely routed with the 
loss of 9000 prisoners, 30 cannons and much bag- 
gage. 

By these spirited and successful operations, car- 
ried on by an inferior and scattered army, in face 
of one which had for som.e time been concentrated, 
and in line, the whole plan of the Austrians was en- 
tirely defeated. While Buonaparte, by his vigorous 
and ever fertile genius, was enabled to extricate 
his army from the rather perilous, and certainly 
ill-chosen position, in which it had been placed by 
his general in the earlier part of the year. 

In the mean time the Austrians under the arch- 
duke Charles retired upon Eckmuhl. Here they 
determined to make a stand; but all their ,cn- 



to2 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

deavours were in vain, as they were driven frorre 
the position and entirely defeated, after a battle 
which is said to have exhibited greater talent on 
the part of the French, than any engagement re- 
corded in the annals of war. The divisions of Na- 
poleon's army are stated to have been moved on 
this occasion with all the ease, correctness, and 
skill, exhibited in a masterly game of chess. They 
arrived at their appointed positions exactly at the 
moment, when their appearance was calculated to 
have the most decisive influence on the fate of the 
day — so that in spite of their courage, the Austrians 
were compelled to give way before the manoeuvres 
and bravery of the French, Indeed their defeat 
was of a very disastrous kind; and most of their 
artillery, numerous standards, and more than 20,000 
prisoners remaining to attest the triumphs of their 
fbes. 

After this signal failure, the archduke Charles 
retired upon Bohemia, leaving the road to Vienna 
open to his successful opponent. Nor did the lat- 
ter fail to improve the opportunity. According to 
his usual custom. Napoleon pressed toward the 
heart of his enemies' country; and after a very se- 
vere engagement at Ebersberg, in which Massena 
carried the strongf position of general Hiller by 
sheer force, Buonaparte once more entered the 
capital on the 12th May. During the bombard- 
ment that preceded the capitulation of the city, it 
was intimated to the emperor that the archduchess 
Maria Louisa was confined by indisposition in the 
palace of her father which happened to be exposed 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 153 

to the greatest severity of the fire. A knowledge 
of this fact altered the direction of the cannonade; 
and his future wife was probably indebted for her 
life to the humanity and courtesy of Napoleon. 

But though in possession of Vienna, the situation 
of Buonaparte was by no means ©f an enviable kind. 
It is true he had defeated, but he had not as at 
Ulm, captured the main body of his foes. On the 
contrary the army, under the archduke Charles, 
recruited, and reinforced from various quarters, 
appeared soon as if it were destined to resume the 
offensive while that commanded by the emperor, 
experienced great difficulty in maintaining its com- 
munications and procuring supplies. 

Under these circumstances Buonaparte determin- 
ed to pass the Danube and bring his recruited op- 
ponent immediate battle. It was ever his plan to 
fight at the earliest possible moment and the present 
situation of his affairs, both in Germany and Spain, 
rendered it important for him to obtain a victory 
without loss of time. But all the Sridges over the 
river, that separated him from the enemy having 
at this time been destroyed (they were left in 1805) 
he found it extremely difficult to discover a situa- 
tion where he could pass over his army with pni- 
dence, in fiace of a superior fee. After some inef- 
fectual attempts, he fully determined to attempt a 
passage at Ebersdorf. The Danube at this place is 
separated into five streams by various islands that 
intersect its stream, the principal of the group be- 
ing called the isle of Labau. With great skill and 
cprresponding rapidity, the French threw bridges 



134 EIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

from one of these islands to the other, till on the^ 
20th of May the whole army had arrived upon the 
left bank of the river, and established themselves 
in a position stretching between the villages of Ess" 
ling- and Asjierriy its principal supports. 

Whether or not the archduke Charles anticipat- 
ed the subsequent misfortune experienced by his 
opponent, it is certain he offered little opposition to 
a passage which it would seem he had full means 
to prevent. But on the 21st and 22d he attacked 
Napoleon with great vigour and superior numbers. 
Time after time was the village of Aspem taken 
and retaken by the contending armies. Till on the 
evening of the first day's combat, it remained (fill^ 
ed with dead) -partly in possession of the French, 
and' partly occupied by a portion of the Austrian 
army. Indeed the action was maintained with de- 
termined bravery, and nearly equal success till the 
afternoon of the 22d, v/hen the bridges erected by 
Napoleon for maintaining his communication with 
the right bank of the Danube were carried away. 
The Austrians attribute this event to fire ships sent 
by them for the purpose, but the French declare 
the occurrence to have been occasioned by a swell 
of the river. Be this as it may, it caused the situ- 
ation of Buonaparte to be one of great danger; and 
from which it required all the skill' and bravery of 
his aiTiiy to extricate themselves. Reti*eat or de- 
stiiiction were the alternatives offered to a com- 
inander, with whom battle and victory had usually 
been synonymous terms. Nor was retreat easy, 
boi^ore an enemy whom, after two days fighting, 1^5. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 153 

had been unable to conquer, and who, on leaniing 
his misfortune, pressed forward with renewed vi- 
gour and augmented hope. Aspem, that had at 
last remained with the French, was speedily re- 
taken by the advancing Austrians. Indeed but for 
the extraordinary bravery of Napoleon's soldiers, 
IV ho on this tiying occasion shew themselves worthy 
of such a commander, that great general must have 
been entirely overwhelmed. Nothing however could 
exceed the determination of his forces, who under 
Massena continued to defend Essling that covered 
the retreat In vain did the Austrians press fresh 
battalions into this now important place, and en- 
deavour, at the point of the bayonet, to carry a po- 
sition, the possession of which would ha^■c secured 
the defeat — the entire defeat of their great oppo- 
nent. Every effort failed; and night at length en- 
abled Napoleon to withdraw his forces to the isle 
of Lobau, that part of his bridges which connected 
the isle with the left bank of the river having es- 
caped tlie damage that befell the remainder. 

The destruction on both sides during this long 
continued engagement was very great. Each arm}" 
i.-j supposed to have lost at least 20,000 men, killed 
and wounded. General St. Hilairc and marshal 
Lannes, duke of Montebello, and the hero of an 
hundred battles, were both killed on the part of 
the French. 

But the consequences of this bloody engagement 
fell far short of the expectations it raised in the 
minds of the enemies of Napoleon. With an acti^i- 
ty almost unexampled even in his own active ca- 



lo6 LIFE AND CAIVIPAIGNS OF 

reer, this distinguished general speedily restored 
his communications with the other bank of the Da- 
nube, while he converted the island of Lobau into 
a sort of citadel, whence he could attack iiis oppo- 
nents, as circumstances might require. Whereas 
the archduke Charles neglected the opportunity, it 
it indeed really existed, for striking a fatal blow 
against his future relative, and contented himself 
with assuming a defensive position on the left bank 
of the river, where he might watch the enemy, 
placed in the islands that separate its stream. 

For several weeks after the battle of Aspern, 
each army received numerous reinforcements. The 
opposing armies in Italy (commanded by the arch- 
duke John, and prince Eugene Beauhamois) used 
every effort to join the forces in Germany under 
Buonaparte and the archduke Charles. But as 
Beauharnois managed to join Napoleon before the 
archduke John could enter into communication with 
his royal brother, the French emperor determined 
at once to attack the latter, ere he received the 
expected reinforcement. 

For this purpose he began to move his army 
from the islands where it had been posted since the 
battle of AspeiTi, to the left bank of the Danube on 
the 5th of July at 10 o'clock at night. Having con- 
structed several gun boats to cover his passage, he 
effected his landing in such a position, that the nu- 
merous batteries, erected by the Austrians to pre- 
vent his exit from the isle of Lobau, were rendered 
of no avail. In fact, the Austrian position was com- 
pletely turned, and their ftank nnd rear became 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. IzH 

exposed to a simultaneous attack, through the ad- 
mirable arrangements of Napoleon, and the culpable 
negligence of his royal opponent. 

On the next day (July 6th) Buonaparte attacked 
the Austrians at Wagram, The archduke Charles, 
on finding himself surprised, had weakened his 
centre, in order to extend his line, and no sooner 
■was this mistake discovered by his eagle-eyed ene- 
my, than he ordered Lauriston and Macdonald, at 
the head of a chosen division, and with an hundred 
pieces of cannon, to press their attack in that direc- 
tion. In this effort they completely succeeded, 
while Napoleon himself, who seems to have thought 
that his affairs demanded nothing short of a deci- 
sive victory, was seen in every place and amid the 
warmest of the fire, encouraging his soldiers, and 
directing the movements necessary to secure a 
triumph worthy of his name. 

Nor was the result of the battle of Wagram less 
signal than he could have desired. The Austrians 
fled from the field in indescribable confusion; leav- 
ing at least 20,000 prisoners in the hands of the 
French. In fact the archduke John arrived upon 
the scene of action before the conclusion of the 
affair; and but for the completeness of the rout, 
might have restored the fortune of the day. As it 
"was, he was glad to withdraw, unnoticed by the 
foe. 

All hope from further resistance was now aban- 
doned by the Austrian government. An armistice 
was consequently concluded forthwith; and after 
protracted negotiations a defensive treaty was sign- 

O 



15S LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

cd at Schoenbrun, on the 14th of October, 1809. 
By this treaty, Austria made yet further cession of 
territory to France and its allies. Even Russia it- 
self with its usual cupidity of power, agreeing to 
accept part of the spoil taken from its late ally. 
But still the terms may be looked upon as extreme- 
ly favourable to the losing party in the war, consi- 
dering the complete state oi subjection to which he 
■was reduced. Nor could Austria indeed have ex- 
pected to get off so easily but for an event (the 
marriage of Napoleon) which totally changed her 
relation with France, and to which we shall refer 
more pai-ticularly in a future page. 

Before however we remark upon a circumstance 
that had such powerful influence upon the career of 
Napoleon, as his repudiation of Josephine and mar- 
riage with Maria Louiea, we must notice the brave 
defence which was made by the Tyrolese peasantry 
against tlic armies of France and Bavaria, sent to 
bring them to subjection. Their efforts indeed, 
were useless for the moment. But whether receiv- 
ed as an instance of isolated patriotism and brave- 
ry, or as one of the means that served, by its exam- 
ple to rouse all Europe against the tyranny of 
Fmnce, tlicir heroic exertions desen'c to be re- 
membered; and we willingly devote a small space, 
even ot our brief chronicle, to a commemoration of 
their deeds. 

By the last treaty between France and Austria a 
part of the dominions belonging to the latter countrv, 
the inhabitants of which have constantly evinced 
^rcat loyalty and attachment to the house of Habs- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 159 

burg, was severed from that family, and made over 
to the king of Bavaria. As soon then as the arch- 
duke Charles had raised the standard of resistance 
to France and its ally Bavaria, during the war the 
termination of which we have just narrated, the Ty- 
rolese rose against their new masters. An army of 
45,000 men was consequently sent to quell the re- 
bellion, as such an assertion of the right of the 
people is apt to be termed by the admirers of arbi- 
trary power. The nature of the resistance they ex- 
perienced, may be fairly estimated by the follow- 
ing relation of the fate of the divison, which con- 
sisted of 10,000 soldiers. Its general correctness 
may be fully relied upon and it forms a memorable 
instaicc of what real patriotih^m can do in defence 
of a state. 

The division as we have stated consisted of 10,000 
mvn (Bavarians;) and having entered the Tyrolese 
country, it proceeded along a road that is bordered 
by the Inn, there a deep and rapid torrent. Both 
the road and the river were confined by steep pre- 
cipices of immense height. The place toward 
which this portion of the invading army was direct- 
ed, and in order to reach which, it entered the 
pass we have alluded to, was Prutz ; and the ad- 
vanced guard had been permitted to arrive there 
without inteiTuption. Tlie main body consequently 
advanced without much fear or precaution until it 
arrived at a pait of the ravine where the gradually 
nari'owing precipices seemed almost to meet above 
the head of the soldiers. No sound attended their 
march unless the screatn of eagles, disturbed from 



160 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

their nests; or the roaring of the river as it hurried 
along by their side. All was silence for a consider- 
able time; when at length a voice was heard calling 
from above, "shall we let go?" *No,* was returned 
in an auihorativc tone: which came like the preced- 
ing exclamation, from one who seemed to be at the 
top of the precipices. An interruption, so feaiful, 
yet unexplicable, alarmed the column, which was 
immediately halted till orders could arrive from the 
general, how to pix)ceed under such inauspicious 
circumstances. Before however any directions could 
be received, the awful signal was heard, *'In the 
name of the Holy Trinity, cut all loose." At the 
moment huge rocks and large trunks of trees placed 
for the purpose, came thundering down on the*de- 
voted host while they, who escaped from the dcs» 
cending avalanche were shot by the Tyrolcsc 
marksmen that fired from every bush, crag, or 
rock, which offered any shelter for their aim. As 
this fatal attack was made along the whole line, 
two thirds of the division were desfroyed. The re- 
mainder were immediately routed by the peasants, 
who i-ushed upon them with swords, axes, scythes, 
clubs, or any other rustic weapons, that could be 
obtained to avenge themselves upon the enemies of 
their country. And as the vanguard at Prutz, 
were forced to surrender, the whole of the 10,000 
invaders were completely subdued.. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 101 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Espmisah of Buonaparte and Maria Louisa — proceed- 
ings in Spain — Guerilla si/s/cm — arnit/ of J'ortugul 
commanded bt/ Masucnu — Continental system — /7,v ob- 
ject and effects — i^ietv of Napoleon* s power at t/iis pe- 
riod — rupture with Russia — IVopokon's pUtn of the 
campaign against Russia — French armi/, Jiussian 
army and position. 

Scarcely was peace concluded between Austria 
■and France, before Napoleon commenced an-angc- 
ments for the dissolution of his marriage with Jo- 
sephine. The avowed, and partly the tnic, reason 
for so unusual a procccdinj;^, was the wisli botli of 
the emperor and of his subjects, to have issue of 
his body to succeed to tlic throne. Such a result 
had long been despaired of from his present alliance; 
and Napoleon ultimately persuaded his affectionate 
consort to agi'ee to a separation, which, confirming 
to herself the title of Empress, allowed some other 
female to become the spouse of her Imperial hus- 
band. Thus proving that, the law which cements 
the band of social man was no impediment to the 
during ambition of Napoleon. 

The choice, if it may be so called, fell upon Ma- 
ria Louisa, daughter of the emperor of Austria and 
niece to the gi-eatest military opponent, that at that 
ime, had appeared against Napoleon iu the field, 

O 2 



l^ LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

It is imposible to state the motives (or at least all the 
motives) of Buonaparte, for thus allying himself to 
the house of Habsburg. Its consequences however 
are open to the view of the historian. Nor can it be 
doubted that these were of a description very un- 
favourable to his future success. The connection 
with the house of Austria, alienated from him the 
people who were accustomed to view him, arbitrary 
as he was, as a sort of representative of revolutiona- 
ry opinions. While by inspiring Napoleon himself 
with an expectation of support, which experience 
did not justify, it induced him to undertake opera- 
tions that led to his fall. At the time indeed, the 
marriage was looked upon by most persons as a cir- 
cumstance highly calculated to confirm his power. 
Nor is it probable that such an opinion would have 
failed in the result, if Buonaparte had allowed the 
alliance to inspire his mind with a due sense of na- 
tional justice and moderation. If it had caused him 
to consolidate, instead of to increase, his authority, 
the political union would, in all probability have 
justified the most sanguine theories of the French. 
But increase was his aim, and this ambitious de- 
sire hastened the sudden lapse of his wide spreading 
influence. 

The espousals of Buonaparte and Maria Louisa 
were celebrated, by iiroxy at Vienna, on the lltb. 
of March, IS 10. The marriage was soon after per- 
formed at Paris, by cardinal Fcsr.h, \incle to tlic 
emperor. And if viewed in reference only to the 
domestic happiness of the august parties, the al- 
liance can scarcely b^ deemed other than a happy 



NAPOLEOir BUONAPARTE. 1^3 

^vent. They are represented as having lived in 
strict amity together when not separated by the 
innumerable calls upon his time, that were con- 
stantly occurring in the career of the emperor. In- 
deed the domestic conduct of Buonaparte was ever 
of the most exemplary description, and such as 
would have made him, in a private station, an ex- 
cellent citizen and a happy man. 

During the progress of the events, operations 
were carried on in Spain and Portugal with conside- 
rable activity and success. After the retreat and 
death of Sir John Moore, the Biitish government 
despatched an army to the latter country under Sir 
Arthur Wellesley, a general who had distinguished 
himself highly in India, as Avell as in the expulsion 
of Junot from Lisbon during the preceding year. 
Previous however to his arrival in Portugal, marshal 
Soult had commenced the invasion of the kingdom, 
and captured Oporto, one of the principal cities. 
Put scarcely had Sir Arthur Wellesley assumed the 
command of the English forces, ere lie convinced 
the French general, that a new era had arisen in 
the mode of conducting the war. By movements 
at once rapid and judicious, the British comman- 
der forced Soult to abandon Oporto, and flee into 
Galicia with scarce three-fourths of his araiy re- 
maining. The patriots in several battles defeated 
the French, and regained Ferrol and Corunna. 
Sir Arthur Wellesley formed the grand design of 
inarching into Andalusia, and uniting the British 
forces with those of Cuesta, that he might check 
the progress of the invaders in the South; Cuesta 



lb I LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

however would concur in none of his plans, and 
thus the allies were obliged to receive battle, on 
the 28tli July, 1809, without the advantages of a for- 
mer occasion. Yet the French were defeated at the 
battle of Talavera de la Reina, by Sir Arthur Wel- 
lesley. The continued pervci'seness of Cuesta how- 
ever, caused this event to have a different effect 
from what it ouirht to have produced. The French 
troops collecting from every point, obliged Sir Ar- 
thur to retreat into Portugal, leaving l)ehind to the 
mercy of the French upwards of ISOO wounded. The 
Spanish Junta to show their disapprobation of the 
conduct of Cuesta, removed liim fi*om the command, 
whilst Sir Arthur W'ellesley received the title of 
Lord Wellington, at lionie. Foi-tune seemed eve- 
rywhere to smile on Napoleon's arms. Zaragossa 
after a brave defence was compelled to sun'ender. 
Gerona, Tarragona, Tortosa, Cordova, succeisix ely 
fell into the hands of the French, and even Seville 
itself upon the 17th of February, 1810. 

But the prize of victory had not yet been gained. 
The Supreme Junta had retreated to Cadiz, a city 
fortified on one side by a canal, and on the other by 
the ocean, it contained a garrison of 20,000 men, 
English, Spanish, and Portuguese, under the com- 
mand of General Gi'aham. This crisis, however, 
instead of depriving the spirit of the Spaniards was 
only aH incentive to more desperate resistance ; 
they expressed no dismay ; tliey reckoned on time 
and opportunity as well as valour. They assisted 
Romana, in retaking Corunna and Ferol, and while 
the French were extending their conquests to the 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 165 

Mediterranean, and thundering at the gates cf Ca- 
diz, the provinces adjoining to France, and in fact, 
through the whole Peninsula, were in a state of in- 
surrection, except where the bayonet and sabre 
held them in awe. 

The Guerilla system (or partisan warfare) was 
the basis of this extensive and persevering resis- 
tance. This warfare presented more ft)rniidable 
barriers than that of regular armies, because less 
tangible, and less susceptible of being crushed. 
Thequalitiescf a partisan arc inherent in the Spa- 
i^iard;calmj temperate, and hardy, under the sem- 
blance of serenity, ardent, and fien'. 

Neither promises nor threats made any impres- 
"sion upon their. ; and severity only excited the spi- 
•rit of hostility. N.r were their leaders less hardy; 
they possessed the most perfect knowlcdt^e of pas- 
ses, woods, mountains, &c. They obtained the 
motions of the enemy from the peasantry: was a 
French detachemcut too weak, they cut it off; was 
a garrison too feeble, it was taken. Thus they wa- 
ged a perpetual war ; were they sought for, they 
could not be found ; could damage be done to the 
€Yiemy, they were at hand. 

But the Spaniards were not only dangerous, they 
■were also expensive, large remittances had fre- 
quently to be sent to the army ; besides the British 
forces were in Portugal. He, therefore, deteiTnin- 
€d to make a gigantic effort to drive Lord Welling- 
ton out of Portugal. F )r this purpose he ordered that 
an army, upwards cf 80,000, to be called the army 



166 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OB 

of Portugal, should be assembled, and put under 
the command of Massena, prince of Essling. 

Lord Wellington, in the mean time, was redu- 
ced to a state of inactivity, by the weakness of the 
British ti'oops, (for they did not exceed 25,000) 
and the imperfect discipline of the Portuguese of 
whom he had about 30,000. Lord Wellington had 
long since fixed the position in which he meant to 
defend Portugal, and the fortifications had been, 
long in progress. He therefore carefully adjusted 
all his movements, that he might draw the enemy 
to a place, suitable for his purpose. 

Massena saw them retreating, and that he might 
drive them, if not into the sea, at least into their 
ships, made a bold attack on the 27th of September 
1810, as the British were assembled on the Sierra, 
or ridge of the hills called Busaco. The attack 
was made by five strong divisions of the French. 
Two attacked the right, and three the left, but 
v/erc driven down with great loss. The French 
army, declining any farther attack on the Sieri'a, 
the British retired into their fortifications, which 
covered Lisbon. Here for more than four months, 
Massena tried every effort which military skill 
could devise, but to no purpose. At length on the 
4th of March, he commenced his retreat followed 
by lord Wellington, until driven out of the Portu- 
guese territory. 

About the beginning of this year, (1810) Fouche, 
the minister of Police, endeavored unknown to Na- 
poleon, to find upon what terms a peace with Eng- 
land might be obtained. But unfortunately Napoleon 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 167 

entered, about the same time, into a correspon- 
dence with the marquis of Wellesley, concerning 
the same affair. The British statesman, receiving 
the double application, suspected some deception, 
and broke of all correspondence with them. 

Overtures for peace with England, being thus 
rendered abortive, that he might destroy the 
strength, and sap the resources of that country, he 
enforced what he called the European Continental 
System, which abolished all commerce, and obliged 
each nation to use its own productions. For this 
purpose, he shut every port, and closed every aper- 
ture tiiat he might smother the greatest enemy 
(Britain) to his ambition. 

The efforis of this interdiction, seem to have 
been more severely felt by Napoleon, than by the 
object of his aim. By means of it, the thrones of 
Holland and Sweden fell, ^vhilst Britain was not 
materially injured by it. 

On the 16th of June ISll, Napoleon announced 
to his officers and courtiers, the birth of his son, by 
whom he was hailed King of Rome. This natural- 
ly drew the eyes of the world, to the vast inheri-' 
tancc, which was likely to descend to the heir. 

Napoleon's dominions had gradually extended. 
His immediate liege subjects, to the number of 
42,000,000, inhabited the finest portion of the civil- 
ized world. Nor is that all, we might add to his 
personal empire, Lombardy, Illyria, Istria, Dal- 
inatia, Albania, Helvetia, Switzerland and some 
others. Thus about three-fourths of the civilized 
world were in subjection to Napoleon's sceptre. 



16S LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Without entering at any great length into the 
causes of the rupture between France and Russia, 
>ve may observe that the seeds were sown in the 
treaty of Tilsit This treaty, which appears to 
liave been dictated by Buonaparte, contained seve- 
ral articles, which became vexatious to the Rus- 
sians ; as *• that a free military road from Saxo- 
ny to Warsaw and its territory, through Silesia,** 
*'that France should retain Dantzic until a mari- 
time peace." The Continental System also produ- 
ced much distress, national and personal. Their 
timber, pitch, potash, hemp, &c. for which the 
British had been ready customers, remained on 
their hands. The articles of peace concluded with 
Austria at Schocnbi-un, also created suspicions. 
By that treaty all western Gallcia, together with 
the city of Cracow, and other territories, were dis- 
joined from Austria, ar^ added to the dukedom of 
Warsaw, the intention of which (as was supposed) 
Avas to restore the kingdom of Poland. 

Overtures for adjustment havhig been made toijo 
eiFect, the most acti\ e preparations were making 
on both sides. Those of Russia were defensive ; 
but she mustered great armies ; whilst France was 
rapidly pouring troops into Pnjssia, and the grand 
duchy of Warsawi for invading the frontier of Rus- 
sia. Vet amid those preparations, there seemed to 
be a lingering wish on the part of both soYcroigns, 
even at this late hour, to avoid the conflict. 

Accordingly, the Czar sent his idtlmatum. The 
grounds of arrangement proposed were, the eva- 
cuation of Prussia and Pomerania bv the French 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1.69 

troops, a (liminuticn of the garrison of Dantzic ; 
and an amicable arrangement of the dispute be- 
tween Napoleon and Alexander. The Czar agreed 
to have his commerce placed on the same footing as 
1" ranee ; to introduoe the clauses necessary to pro- 
tect the French trade ; and to use his influence 
^v\ih the duke of Oldenburg, that he might accept 
some reasonable indemnification for the territory, 
which had been so summarily annexed to France. 
Kapoleon, howerer, thought fit not to comply, nay 
made them the direct cause of hostilities. The de- 
mand, he said, was insolent ; he was not accustom- 
ed to be addressed in that style, nor to regulate his 
movements by the command of a foreign sovereigr. 

On the 9th of May 1812, Buonaparte left Paris, 
for Dresden, where all the Kings, Dominations, 
Princes, Dukes, and dependent royalties, subject to 
Napoleon, waited upon him. Here Napoleon made 
a last attempt at negotiation, but with no effect. 
The Russians were found to be neither depressed 
nor elated, but arrived at the general conclusion, 
that war was become inevitable. 

Napoleon's i)lan of the campaign was formed on 
his usual system of warfare. To cany his army 
into his enemy's country ; to accumulate a great 
force on the centre of the Russian line, to break it, 
and cut off as many divisions as possible ; to take 
possession of large towns and if possible Pctcrs- 
burgh or Moscow. 

Buonaparte's immense hosts occupied not less 
than a hundred and seventy French leagues in ex- 
tent of front. Macdonald commanded the left 

P 



170 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

-wing, which consisted of above 30,000. Prince 
Schwartzcnbcrg commanded the right. In the 
middle, lay the grand French army, divided into 
three masses, Tlie cavalry of the guards was com- 
manded by Bessieres. The l.ifantry by marschals 
Lefcbvre and Morticr. The corps d'armcc com- 
manded by Davoust, Oudinot, and Ney ; and the 
divisions of cavahy under Crouchy, Montbrun, and 
Nansouty, amounted to 250,000, also a mass of 
about 80,000 under king Jerome, Poniatowski, Rc- 
ziner, ana a centi-al arniy under Eugene. 

On the otlicr hand, the grand Russian army com- 
manded by the emperov in person, and more im- 
mediately by Barclay dc Tolly, advanced its head- 
quarters as far as Wilna, it amounted to 120,000. 
On the north. Count P'.sscnhad a division of 10,000. 
Prince Bagration on the south, also Platoff. The 
army of Volhynia, under Tormasoff, occupied the 
extreme left, amounting to 20,000. Two armies 
of resen'e, amounting to 20,000 each were forming 
at Nov«gorod and Smolensk. 

Thus, the Russians entered upon the campaign 
with a sum total of 2G0,000 men, opposed to 470,000, 
with an odds of almost one half against them. Rus- 
sia, however, during the war, raised reinforce- 
ments, which more than balanced Ytcv deficiency. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 171 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Sujftrings of the French — Bagratlon is defealed hy 
Davoust — hatilc of Smolensk — battle at Valantina-^ 
Koutowsoff appointed to the chief command of the JRus- 
sian .Irmi/ — battle of Borodino — the French enter 
Moscow — burning of Moscow. 

On the 23d June 1812, Napoleon, having arrived 
and rcconnoitcrcd the banks of the Niemcn, ordcr- 
t d bridges to be built across. On the Russian side 
appeared only a single Cossack, -^'ho demanded 
their purpose in the territories of Russia. " To 
beat you and take Wilna," was the reply. A 
dreadful thunder storm welcomed them in this 
dreary land. The Wilia too, being swollen with 
lain, presented an almost insurmountable obstacle 
in their way. The roads to Wilna having been 
broken up ; the soldiers were losing themselves in 
the mud, or perishing in the bogs and quagmires 
of a country, which furnished neither friends nor 
subsistence. 

Thus, in the very first marches from the Niemen 
and the Wilia, not less than 10,000 horses, and 
numbers of men, were left dead on the road. They 
suffered much also in the hospital department, for, 
although no battle, and scarce a skirmish had been 
fought, 25,000 patients cumbered the hospitals of 
Wilna ; and the villages were filled with soldiers 
dving for want of medical aid. 



172 LIFK A^D CAMPAIGNS OF 

On the 30th of July Napoleon being informed, 
that Bagration's army was placed far to the south- 
west, gave directions to the king ci Westphalia, to 
press upon Bagration in front, and throw him upon 
the army of Davoiist, which ivas to advance on his 
flank and towards his rear ; concluding that being 
cut off from the grand army, and attacked at once 
by Jerome and Davc^ust, he muM necessarily sur- 
render or be destroyed. Several skirmishes ensu- 
ed between Bagration's corps and those opposed 
to it, of which the event w as dubious. However, 
endeavoring to extricate his army iix>m their pe- 
rilous situation, by making a circuitous march to- 
wards the south, he was attacked in front by Da- 
voust, and repulsed ; without however suffering 
much, except in the failure of his purpose. Not* 
withstanding, he finally effected a communication 
with the grand Russian army: through the want, 
it is said, of sufficient vigour on the part of Jerome, 
who was sent back to his Westphalian dominions, 
unaccompanied even by a single soldier. 

After several severe and bloody skirmishes on 
both sides, but without any appearance of a decisive 
battle. Napoleon laid a scheme of singularly au- 
dacious character. He resolved to change his line 
of operations from Witepsk upon the Dwina, to 
concentrate his army on the Dnieper, making Ose- 
ra the central point of his operations ; to occupy 
Smolensk, and act upon their lines of communica- 
tion with M scow. His movements were conduct- 
ed with the utmost skill and rapidity. Ney and 
Murat drove every thing before them until they ap- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. i75 

preached Crasnoi, upon the 14th of August. Ge- 
neral Neverowski had been stationed there, with 
about 6,000 men, a part of the garrison of Smo- 
lensk. But finding himself attacked, by a foree 
much stronger than his own, made a brave retreat 
into the city, having lost 400 men. 

On the same day with this skirmish, Napoleon- 
arrived at Rasassina, and continued his march with 
all speed to Smolensk, where he appeared on the 
16th. The sacred city of Smolensk, and key of 
Russia, contains about 12,600 inhabitants. It is 
situated on the heights of the left bank of tlie Dnie- 
per. It was then surrounded by an old wall^ 
eighteen feet thick, and seventy-five high. Raefskoi 
prepared to defend Smolensk at the head of 16,000 
men. 

Ney aiTivcd first under the walls, and instantly 
rushed forward to the attack. He failed tntireh'r 
being himself wounded, and two thirds of the storm- 
ing party cut off. A second attempt was to as lit- 
tle pui-pose. About the time Napoleon arrived, it 
was reinforced by the gi*and Russian army under 
Barclay, and the troops of Bagration. Buonaparte 
now expected the battle, whick he so much longed 
for. lie expected on the morning of the I7th to 
see the Russian army drawn up between his own 
front and Smolciisk. Morning, however, showed 
the Russians in full retreat ; Barclay being unwil- 
ling that the safety of his army and the empire, 
should be endangered even for the sacred city. 

Napoleon, disappointed and incensed, commen- 
ced the attack on the citv, but the place was defcnd- 

P 2 



171 LIFE AND CAMPAIGN'S O*' 

cd with the same vigour as before. The field-guns 
were unable to penetrate the walls; and the French 
lost four or five thousand in returning repeatedly to 
the attack. Abovit the middle of the night, the 
Russians, having evacuated the city set fire to it. 
Next moming the French entered Smolensk, and 
fcmnd nothing but blazing houses, ashes, and blood. 
The Frcncli troops were sti-uck with horror ; here 
they were in an inhospitable wilderness of swamps, 
and pine forests, and deserts ; without provisions, 
and without shelter; without hospitals fir the sick 
and dressings for the wounded ; and without even 
a shed where the weaiy might repose, or the 
wounded might die. Tlie surgeons were obliged to 
bind up the wounds with parchment, and the down 
that gi-ows on the birch trees. 

Hitherto the wings of Napoleon's army had had 
the advantage. Macdonald, in blockading Riga, 
kept all Courland at his disposal, and alarmed St. 
Petersburgh. Farther south Saint Cyr gained a 
severe battle, at Poltosk. And TormasafT, the 
Russian general, was repulsed with loss, at Goro- 
dcczna. 

Napoleon lost no time in pursuing the enemy, he 
detached Murat, Ney, Junot, and Davoust, in pur- 
b lit of them, who overtook the rear-guard of the 
Kussiaii!^, at a place called Valoutina. Were a deS' 
p r :te action to(jk pluce, the Russians reinforcing 
their rear-guard >'s tVist as the French brought new- 
bodies to attack tlicm. Both sides fought most 
obstinately, and Gudin, the French general, was 
mortally v/ounded. Nothing decisi^•c, however. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. I7a 

vu? done. The Russians moved off without losing 
cither guns, prisoners, or baggage. It is said that 
the loss on each side was nearly equal. 

Barclay dc Tolly's defensive plan had hitherto 
been strictly adhered to. But they were approach- 
ing Moscow the grand, the sanctified. It became 
them, therefore, to make a vigorous effort, to de- 
fend the holy city. For this purpose, general 
Koutowsoff was nominated to the chief command of 
the grand army. 

The Russians had raised very formidable field- 
works on a position naturally strong, at Borodino. 
And on the 5th September, (1R12) the French ar- 
my were opposed to them. Their first attack was 
successful on a redoubt in the Russian front. Both 
armies next day prepared for the approaching con- 
flict ; each might now be about 120,000. 

On the morning of tlie 5th, Buonaparte as usual 
addressed his men. "Soldiers" said he " here is 
the battle you have longed for ; it is necessary, for 
it brings us plenty. Let posterity say of each of 
you, •• 'he was in that great battle under the walls 
of Moscow,' " 

The battle commenced about 7 o'clock, by Ney':s 
attacking the bastioned redoubt on the Russian cen- 
tre, with the greatest violence, while prince Eu- 
gene made equal efforts to dislodge the enemy from 
the villpge of Semoneskoie, and the adjoining forti- 
fications: No action was ever more keenly contest- 
ed, nor at such a wastful expenditure of human life. 
The fury of the French onset carried the re- 
doubts, but the Russians, without feeling cither fear 



176 tIFE AND CAMPAIGKS OF 

or astonishment, closed the ranks over their com- 
rades as they fell, and rallied under the very line 
of the enemy's fire. 

At length the Russians were commanded to re- 
treat ; and the French drew off to their original 
ground. Both parties sustained a dreadful loss in 
this sanguinary battle. The Russians had to lament 
the death of prince Bagration. General Tones- 
kofFdied of his wounds; and many other Russian 
generals were wounded. Their loss amounted to 
the awful sum of 15,000 killed, and more than 
30,000 wounded. The French were supposed to 
have at least 10,000 killed, and 20,000 wounded. 

Oft the 12th September, Buonaparte resumed 
his march, the army having no better guide than 
the direction of the high way, and the men no bet- 
ter food than horse-flesh and bruised wheat. In 
the meantime, the inhabitants of Moscow were 
carrying off every thing, that was valuable ; the 
roads were crowded with files of carriages, and 
long columns of men, women, and children. 

On the I4th September 1812, while the rear- 
guard of the Russians were in the act of evacuating, 
Moscow, Napoleon reached the Mount of Salvation 
where the Holy City is first to be seen. His first 
exclamation was, "behold at last that celebrated 
city!" And his army raised a shout of " Moscow I 
Moscow ! 

Moscow seemed lordly and striking as ever, with 
the steeple of its thirty churches, and copper domes 
glittering in the sun ; and its Kremlin, a huge mass 
cf towers, something between a palace and a castle^ 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ITT 

rose like a citadel out of the general mass of groves 
and buildings. But not a chimney sent up smoke, 
not a man appeared on the battlements. The ti- 
dings that a population of 250,000 persons had left 
their native city was incredible, and Napoleon, 
smiling, said, "the Russians will soon learn better 
the value of their capital." 

The army having entered and taken quarters in 
the desolate city, Buonaparte stopped at the first 
suburb, until mid-night the soldiers were startled 
by the report that the city was on fire, when Na- 
poleon rushed to the spot. When the alarm seemed 
at an end, he retired to the Kremlin, and availing 
himselfof the blazing light of the Bazaar, wrote pro- 
posals of peace to the emperor, and despatched them 
with a Russian officer. But no answer ever returned. 

Next day the flames had disappeared, but at night 
they broke out again with as much violence as ever. 
The gales of the third night extended the flames, 
with which no human power could contend. The 
Kremlin itself was found to be on fire, and Buena- 
parte made his escape to a palace of the czar'si, 
called Petrowsky, in the country. 

The fire raged till the 19th, with unabated vio- 
lence; and then began so slacken for want of fuel. 
It is said four-fifths of this great city were laid in 
ruins. Napoleon returned to theKremlin on the 20th. 

Whether the conflagration of Moscow was, or was 
not, the work of count Rostopchin's (the governor 
of the city) vassals, has been disputed, certain it is, 
that several wretches were shot^ who had matches 
Under their cloaks. 



173 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Napolton sollcUs peace and is rejected — Murat defeated 
— battle of Mala- Yarowslavetz — hattle of Wiazma — 
sufferings of the French — the whole French army col- 
lected at Smolensk — Napoleon continues his retreat — 
hattle of Krasnoi — Ney's retreat — crossi7ig and battle 
of the Beresina — Napoleon arrives at Paris — retreat of 
the Ch'and Army — total loss of the French, 

Napoleon expected that Alexander would open 
some communication on the subject of the letter, 
"which he had sent by the Russian officer, but in 
A'ain. At length, he grew impatient, and dismissed 
general count Lauriston with a letter to Alexander, 
the emperor, and the parting instruction, "I must 
have peace, and will sacrifice, to obtain it, all ex- 
cept my honour. 

In the meantime, the Russian* had taken up the 
strong position of Taroatino, for the purpose of co- 
vering the important town of Kalouga, and harass- 
ing, nay, intercepting Napoleon's line of communi- 
cation with Smolensk and with Poland. Murat, at 
the same time, established himself in front of the 
Russians, for the purpose of watching their mo- 
tions. 

While matters were in this state, Lauriston was 
admitted, on the 5th October, to an interview with 
KoutowsofF. After some preliminary remarks, Lau- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 179 

rlston entered on the business of his mission, by 
asking ^yhether "this war Avas to last for ever;" 
declaring that his master earnestly desired, to ter- 
minate hostilities between two great and generous 
nations; an armistice was agreed to, which could 
be broken off, on an intimation of three hours' space. 
KoutowsofF declared he was prohibited to treat, 
but he offered to send general Wolkonsk}", to learn 
the pleasure of the czar. The emperor Alexander 
refused to hear of any negotiation for peace. 

Whilst Murat was examining the advanced guards 
a Cossack having fired a carabine, irritated and in- 
duced him to announce the armistice at an end. The 
Russians made the first attack on the left of Murat's 
positiort, and obliged it to give way. The king of 
Naples, here, met with a complete defeat, and lost 
his cannon, his position, and his baggage, had 
2,000 kilied and lost 1500 prisoners. The Russians 
found that flayed cats, and horse flesh, were the 
dainties of the king of Naples kitchen. 

On the 18th of October, an officer brought tke 
intelligence of this mishap to Buonaparte; and on the 
19th he left Moscow saying, *'Let us march on 
Kalouga and woe to those who shall oppose us." 
Delson's division, having occupied Mala-Yarowsla- 
vetz, Koutowsoff resolved to retake it if possible. 
About four in the morning, the Russians rushed into 
the place, and, in a short time, this town was taken 
and retaken five times. 

The result of this battle was of the last conse- 
quence, since it compelled a suffering and broken 
iU'my to retreat through si country wasted by their 



180 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

own advance, houses burnt, inhabitants fled, and 
roads broken up. Napoleon divided his army to 
inarch in three corps d'armee. Napoleon with the 
first, prince Eugene with the second, and Davoust 
led the third. 

The centre and rear were attacked through the 
whole course by clouds of cossacks. But nothing 
very material happened, until the 2d of November, 
the French were lying within two leagues of Wias- 
ma. The Russians attacked them in the morning, 
and continued still towards evening. The day was 
disastrous to the French, they lost about 4,000, their 
regiments were reduced to battalions, their batta- 
lions to companies, their companies to weak pic- 
quets. 

On the 5th of November, Napoleon arrived at 
Dorogobrige, and on the 6th commenced that ter- 
rible Russian winter, of which the French had not 
yet experienced the terrors. No sun was visible, 
and the dense and murky fog was changed into a 
heavy fall of snow in large and broad flakes, which 
at once chilled and blinded the soldiers. Unheard 
of disasters followed, roads and fields disappeared, 
holes and ravines became graves for thousands of 
those unhappy and ill fated beings. 

A strong wind also began to arise, and hurl the 
snow from the earth, as well as from the heavens, 
into dizzy eddies around the soldiers' heads. Many 
were hurled to the earth in this manner, where 
the snow furnished them with an instant grave, and 
concealed their ghastly remains until next summer. 
Numerous heaps formed in the snow, of the bodies 



NAPOLEON fitONAPARTE. ISi 

of those who had preceded, pointed out the track, 
and, at the same time, intimated what they might 
expect. 

Nevertheless, in the midst of this unheard of 
distress, they considered Napoleon as t\ie/ialladiu7n 
that was to save them. His presence frequently 
electrified the most dejected, and seldom failed to 
exite a momentary enthusiam similar to that of the 
days of victory. The word Smolensk also echoed 
from man to man, served as a talisman to keep up 
their spirits. 

At leng^th the longed for Smolensk was visible^ 
but the promised quarters were no where to be 
found; for, the Russians, as we said before, had burnt 
the city, and the miserable sheds proved but a poor 
shelter, from the inclemency of such weather. Na- 
poleon allowed his army, which was now entirely 
collected, five days to consume such supplies as 
"were to be found in Smolensky and to prepare for 
the terrors of a farther retreat* 

The operations in eastern Prussia, and in Lithua- 
nia, upon the Bug, in which Napoleon was not per- 
sonally concerned, must necessarily be passed over; 
suffice it to say, they met with several severe dis- 
asters. 

Napoleon's army was now reduced to about 40,000 
men, which he divided into four corps, that were to 
leave Smolensk, placing a day's interval betwixt the 
march of each. He himself led the van on the 
evening of the 13th November. 

KoutowsofF also put his army in motion towards 
Krasnoi, upon a parallel line with tkat of Buona- 

Q 



182 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

parte, so as to place Napoleon's line of advance at 
his mercy, whenever he should think proper to 
assail it» Napoleon thought fit to halt at Krasnoi, 
until his other divisions should come up. In the 
mean time, Miloradovitch attacked the second di- 
vision, under Eugene, and almost entirely destroyed 
it. However, on the 17th, Eugene reached the 
head quarters of his father-in-law j and when united 
they did not exceed 15,000. 

At Krasnoi, KoutowsofF opened a distant can- 
nonade, and after some severe assaults, the French 
left on this fatal field, forty-five pieces of cannon, 
upwards of six thousand prisoners, and a great 
number slain and ^rounded. 

To complete their losses, Ney's division was be- 
twixt the whole Russian army and Napoleon. Ney 
left Smolensk on the 17th of November at the head 
of seven or eight thousand men. They advanced 
•without much interuption till they reached Kras- 
noi, where they saw all the relics of a bloody action, 
A little beyond this lay Miloradovitch, at the head 
of a great force, and a thick mist which covered the 
ground, occasioned Ney's column to advance under 
the Russian batteries before being aware of the 
danger. 

A single officer appeared, and invited Ney to ca- 
pitulate. **A marshal of France never surrenders," 
was the reply. After repeated endeavours to cut a 
passage through the Russian troops, Ney, seeing 
that the general fate of his army was no longer 
doubtful, selected 4,000 of the best men, and under 
shelter Qf the night nearly reached Syrokovenia* 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1S5 

Here he found a place in the river Dnieper frozea 
over, though so thinly that it bent beneath the 
steps of the soldiers. Some waggons loaded -with 
the sick and wounded last attempted to pass; but 
the ice broke with them, and he heavy plunge and 
stifled moaning apprised their companions of their 
fate. The Cossacks as usual took possession of the 
artillery and baggage. 

Ney arrived on the 20th of November, and Na- 
poleon hailed him with the title "the bravest of the 
brave, " All Napoleon*s army now united, scarcely 
amounted to 12,000. There were besides, perhaps^- 
30,000 stragglers. 

Napoleon, having arrived at the river Beresinf^ 
determined that a passage should be attempted, at a 
place Studzianka, where the stream was only fifty- 
five fathoms across, and six feet deep. Here Na- 
poleon's hope was revived by the success of Victor 
and Oudinot. They forced Wittgenstein to abandon 
BorisofF, a town a little below Studzianka. Napo- 
leon, having thrown over a bridge, pushed his 
troops across the river, on the 26th and 27th; but the 
passage was very slow, for the number of stragglers 
and the quantity of baggage was immense. 

Hitherto Napoleon had exceeded his most san- 
guine expectation; but the scene which follows, ex- 
hibits one of the wildest and most horrible, that war 
can picture. Tchitchagoff and Wittgenstein resolv- 
ed upon a joint attack upon both banks of the river 
at once. The French were victorious on the right 
bank, it was otherwise on the left. Victor who com- 
nranded the French rear-guard amounting perhapsr 



184 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

to 8000 or 10,000, was prepared to cover the retreat 
over the bridges. Behind this defensive line were 
many thousands of stragglers, men women, child- 
ren, domestics, the aged and the infants, were 
seen among the wretched mass. Waggons, carts, 
wains, and even the artillery, were mixed in confu- 
sion upon the shore. 

Such was the condition of matters at the bridge, 
when Wittgenstein attacked Victor, and the balls 
of the Russians began to fall among the disordered 
mass. The crowd rushed like distracted beings 
towards the bridge. In this horrid scene, the weak 
and helpless either shrunk back from the fray, or 
were thrust over the bridge, crushed under carri- 
ages, cut down with sabres, or trampled under foot. 
And, as if the Heavens meant to match their wrath 
with man, a burrican arose, and added horrors to a 
scene already so dreadful. About mid-day the artil- 
lery bridge broke down, and multitudes were forced 
into the water. This dreadful scene continued till 
dark, when Victor, with the remainder of his 
troops, crossed also. At day-break the French en- 
gineer, General Ebli, set fire to the bridge. All 
that remained on the other side became prisoners. 
The Russian report, concerning the bodies, which 
were collected and burnt as soon as the thaw per- 
mitted, states, that upwards of 36,000 were found 
in the Beresina. 

On the 29th November 1812, the emperor left 
the fatal banks of the Beresina, at the head of an ar- 
my more disorganised than ever. They pushed on 
without any regular disposition, having no more 



KAPOLEON BUOKAPARTE. IS5 

vanguard, centre or rear, than a flock of sheep. 
To outstrip the Russians was their only desire. 
On the 5th he arrived at Smorgoni, here, he was. 
reinforced by Loison. Having arranged the order 
of march to Wilna, Napoleon determined on his 
departure for Paris, that he might create new re- 
sources. Three sledges, the ^rhole retinue were- 
provided ; one of which was for himself and Cau- 
laincourt. 

On the 6th the emperor abandoned the army to 
its fate, and travelling rapidly and in secrecy on 
the 14th he was at Dresden, and on the 18th, about 
mid-night he arrived at Paris, 

We now return to the gi'and army, of which the 
chief command had been delegated to Murat. 
Their sufferings were dreadful ; cold, famme, and 
disorder, made terrible ha.voe among them. The 
6th December, being most intensely cold, the mer- 
cury being 27 or 28 degrees below zet'o, many drop- 
ped down and expired in silence, the blood of 
others gushed from their eyes and mouth and the 
wretches sunk down on the gory snow, at length, 
were relieved by death. In this horrible retreat 
20,000 recruits had joined the army since crossing 
th« Beresina, where, including the corps of Oudinot 
and Victor, they amounted to §0,000. But of thiis 
sum one half perished betv/ixt the Beresina and the 
walls of Wilna. 

In such a plight did the army arrive at Wilna, 
and before 1 2 hours, they were disturbed by a dis- 
tant cannonade, which came nigher and nigher— * 
then by the fire ef musketry. Every alarm was in 

Q3 



186 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

vain ; it seemed as if the soldiers were weary of 
life, and contented to perish like the Jews in the 
wilderness, with their food between their teeth. 

At length, the Russians forced their way into the 
town by one access, whilst the French left it by an- 
other, directing their flight towards Knowo, with 
the most valuable part of their baggage. In their 
flight they lost immense treasures ; but the pursuit 
of the Russians seemed to cease after they had 
crossed the Niemen on the ice. 

It is not wortn while to trace further the flight of 
those miserable beings. We know not whether to 
wonder most at the daring audacity of the expedi- 
tion, or the terrific catastrophe. The total loss, as 
stated by Boutourlin, amounted to 450,000. And 
thus ended the memorable Russian expedition, the 
first of Napoleon's undertakings in which he was 
utterly defeated. 



NAPOLHON BUONAPARTE. 187 



CHAPTER XX. 

Kapokon receives the congratulations of all the public 
Functionaries — JVapoleon^s great and successful exet' 
iions to recruit his army— ^Prussia declares war against 
France — battle ofLutzen — hatth of Bautzen — an ar- 
mistice signed on the 4tk June — broken off on the 10th 
Jlugust — the Mlies attack Dresden — batth of Culm — 
singular conflict on the heights of Peterswald. 

On the morning succeeding Napoleon's return, 
which was like the sudden appearance of one drop- 
ped from the heavens, Paris resounded with the 
news. The grumblers suppressed their murmurs, 
and the mourners dried their tears. The safe re- 
turn of Napoleon was a sufficient cure for the loss 
of 450,000 men, and served to assuage th» sorrows 
of as many widows and orphans. The emperor 
convoked the council of state. He imputed all his 
failures to the snow. " All had gone well" said 
he, * 'Moscow was in our power— every obstacle 
was overcome — the conflagration of the city had 
produced no change on the flourishing condition of 
the French army ; but winter has been productive 
of a general calamity, in consequence of which the 
army had sustained very great losses. " 

The most exaggerated praise of Napoleon's great 
qualities, the most unlimited devotion to his service^ 
the most implicit confidence in his wisdom, were 



13S LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS QF 

the themes of the public functionaries. All was 
bustle, alertness, exertion, and anticipation. 

Looking towards Spain, Napoleon saw his affairs 
there in a betteV posture than he could have ex- 
pected, after the battle of Salamanca, and the cai>- 
turc of Madrid. His army in Spain at this time 
amounted to 270,000, more than sufficient, he 
thought to oppose the enemy there. He withdrew, 
accordingly, one hundred and fifty skeletons of bat- 
talions, which he meant to make the means of dis- 
ciplining his young conscripts. The first Ban of 
National Guards, he conveited in regular soMiers, 
sailors into corps of artillery. He procured a de- 
cree of the Senate, foi* a conscription of 350,000. 

Tlic wonderful energies of Napoleon's mind, and 
the influence which he could exert over the minds 
of others, were never so striking as at this period of 
his reign. He had returned to the scat of his em- 
pire at a dreadful crisis, and in a most calamitous 
condition. Yet he seemed but to stamp on tife 
earth, and armed legions arose at his call. In the 
month of April, his army increased to 350,000 men, 
in addition to the great garrisons in Dantzic, Thorn, 
Modhn, Zamosk, Czenstochau, Custrin &c. He 
had, besides, an active levy of forces in Italy, and a 
large army in Spain. 

iVIurat, having hastily disposed of the troops in 
the various Prussian garnsons recently enumerated, 
suddenly left the army upon the 16th January,1813. 
Napoleon, incensed at his conduct, appointed Eu- 
gene in his place. On the I6th March, the king 
of Pnissia declared war against France. Alcxati- 



NAPOLBON BUONAPARTE. ISd 

der and he having previously entered into a treaty 
of alliance, offensive and defensive. 

The allied army was collected towards Leipsic, 
and lay in Napoleon's road to that city. Several 
skirmishes of minor importance preceded the bat- 
tle of Lutzcn. The French had to lament the loss 
of marshal Besieres, who was killed in a defile, near 
Boscrna, by a cannon-shot. 

On the 2d May, near Lutzen, Blucher made an 
attack on the centre of the French under Ney. 
The fury of the attack was irresistible, and in des- 
pite of a most obstinate defence, the allies obtained 
possession of Hay a, the point on which the centre of 
the French army rested. The combat was despe- 
rate and deplorable, the more so, as the flower of 
the Pi-ussian youth, which had left their universities 
to support the cause of national honor and freedom, 
fought on the one side ; while, the young men of 
Paris, many of them of the boot vank. fought on the 
other ; and both paid ample tribute to the carnage 
of the day. The battle lasted for several hours, at 
length, the allies gave way without further loss 
than the carnage sustained in the field of battle. 
They lost 20,000 killed and wounded. The loss of 
the French was ver>' severe. 

Arriving at Bautzen on the 21st, the emperor in 
person reconnoitred the formidable position of the 
allies. After various manoeuvres, and desperate 
exertions, the French remained masters of tlie 
field. The whole day of the 22d of May was spent in 
attacks upon the rear of the allies, which were al- 
ways repelled by their coolnoss and militaiy con- 



1^ LITE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

duct. On this occasion Napoleon lost all patience. 
"You creep, scoundrel,** addressing a general of- 
ficer, ** what, no results after so much carnage— 
not a gun — not a prisoner ' — these people -will not 
leave me so much as a nail." In this battle the al- 
lies lost about 10,000 in killed and wounded, and 
the French about 15,000. In this battle, Napoleon 
lost two distinguished generals and dear friends, 
Bruyeres and Duroc. 

On the day preceding that sanguinary battle, an 
armistice had been proposed by count Ncsselrodc, 
and on the 4th of June it was signed. 

After various attempts on the part of Austria to 
offect a peace, the 10th of August, the day which 
ooncludcd the armistice, had expired, and Austria 
passed from the friendship of France, into the fe- 
deration of the allies. 

At no moment during the armistice had the hopes 
of peace been so proh-aWc, as to suspend for a mo- 
nuent the most active preparations for war on both 
sides. In tKe beginning of August, Napoleon had 
assembled about 250,000 in Saxony and Silesia, 
The grand army of the Allies under Schwarzcnr 
berg, amounted to 200,000. 

On the 26tli, at day-break, the allies advanced 
on Dresden in six columns under a tremendous fire, 
and had nearly carried it, when Buonaparte, re- 
turning from pursuing the Prussians, came up for 
its relief. On the 27th, the battle was renewed 
amid torrents of rain, and a tempest of wind. Af- 
ter severe fighting on both sides, the allies were 
o>ligcd to give way. They were pursued by fTl>j 



NAPOLEON BUON.U*AUTE. l^I 

French, aiiil lost, what had of late been unusual, a 
great number of prisoners, to the amount, accord- 
ing to Boutourlin, of from 13,000 to 15,000. The 
Russians had to lament the death of General Mo- 
rcau, a distinguished French general, who had been 
induced to leave America, and join the allies. 

Next morning Napoleon was again on horseback, 
directing his victorious ti^oops in pursuit of the ene- 
my. He, however, Uecamc vcr)' much indisposed, 
and was carried back to Dresden. A corps d'ar- 
m<;e, of about 30,000 had been entinistcd to the con- 
duct of general Vandamme, He had advanced as 
far as Petei*swald, forcing before him a column of 
Russians, commanded by count Ostermann. On the 
morning of the 22d, Vandamme had the temerity 
to descend the hill from Pcterswald, to the village 
of Culm. He was within half a league of Toplitz, 
where were the persons of the emperor of Russia 
and the king of Prussia, and the whole depot of the 
head-quarters of the allies. All seemed within his 
grasp, when of a sudden count Ostermann halted; 
like a wild boar brought to bay. His troops were 
few, but excellent, he gave them to understand, 
that the safety of their father (as the Russians af- 
fectionately term the emperor) depended on their 
maintaining their ground. They stood firm as a 
grove of pines opposed to the tempest, and were 
reinforced by Barclay dc Tolly, and others. 

Next day as Vandamme was retreating towards 
the heights of Peterswald, a most singular accident 
took place. A corp d'armec of the alUes, evading 
the pursuit of bt, Cyr, at the head of the hill, v/hcn 



192 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

the French were ascending, and each, having mis- 
taken notions of the other*s design, detcraiincd to 
cut his way through. The two armies were hur- 
led on each other like two conflicting mobs. All 
was a mass of confusion, the Prussian generals find- 
ing themselves in the middle of the French— the 
French officers in the centre of the Russians. Ge- 
nerals Vandamme, Haro, and Guyot, were made 
prisoners, besides a great loss in killed and wounded. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE 191* 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Proceedings in the^^orth of Germany- Napoleon relreais 
to Leipsic — number of the French and allied forces-^ 
dot tie of Lcipsic-hatHe of Hanau- Napoleon arrives at 
Paris on the 9ih November — affairs in Spain — prepa- 
rations of Napoleon against the invasion of France-^' 
/lis address to the National Guard. 

Napoleon not being present at the battles of 
Gross-Beeicn, Katzbach, and Dennewitz, we "will 
pass them ever by remarking, that the French 
ivere defeated, that they were no longer the invin- 
cibles they were once esteemed ; or at least, that 
when they worked miracles, it was only when Buo- 
naparte was at their head. 

Napoleon, baftled in every cnterprize, lay from 
the 11th to the I4th at Duben, concentrating his 
«wn forces, waiting for news of the allies* motions, 
and remaining in a state of uncertainty and inactivi- 
ty. His consultations with his best generals ended 
"without adopting any fixed determination, A suc- 
cession of failures had exasperated their tempers. 
Napoleon represented them as being indifferent, 
lukewarm, awkward, and therefore unfortunate. 
**The general officers," said he "desired nothing 
but repose, and that at all rates." 

On the other hand they pleaded guilty of desiring 
repose ; but asked which was to blame, the horse 
or his rider, when the c\*er-ridden animal broke 

B 



I9i LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP • 

down with fatigue ? At length, a retreat upon 
Lcipsic was resolved upon. 

The last act of the grand lirama, so far as the 
scene lay in Germany, was now fast approaching. 
During the two first weeks of OcTober, nothing de- 
cisive had been done ; but after the 14tli, the corps 
of the allies, as well as those of the French, stream- 
ed towards Lcipsic as to a common centre. 

The emperor reached Leipsic early on the 15th 
of October, (1813) and was informed that his whole 
for«e would be under the walls in 24 hours. The 
number of men who engaged the next morning, 
was said to be 136,000 French, the allies arc rat- 
ed at 230,000. Napoleon himself visited all the 
posts, gave the last orders, and tiistributcd eagles 
to the new levies, which had not yet received these 
military emblems. The soldiers were made to 
swear never to abandon their eagles, and the em- 
peror concluded by saying, in a loud voice, "Yon- 
der lies the enemy, swear that you will rather die 
than permit France to be dishonored." ** We 
swear it," exclaimed the battalions, ** long live the 
emperor!" 

At d»iy -break on the 16th October the battle be- 
gun. During the whole of this day the thunder of 
war urged ijiost dreadfully, at night-fall the bloody 
work ceased as if by mutual consent. Three can- 
non-shot, fired as a signal to the more distant points, 
intimated th.it the conflict was ended for the 
time, and the armies retired to rest in the very 
positions which they had occupied the night before. 

Ketreat became inevitable ; yet, how toaccom- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 195 

plish it through the narrow streets of a narrow ci- 
ty ; how to pass more than 100,000 men over a sin- 
gle bridge, while double that number were pressing 
on their rear, was a problem wkich even Buona- 
parte could not solve. In this perplexity, he sent 
general Mehrfeldt (whom he had captured) with 
propositions for a treaty, with the emperor of Aus- 
tria. The allies, however, had engaged themselves 
solemnly to each other, that tliey would enter into 
no treaty with him while an individual of the French 
army remained in Germany. 

The 17th, was spent in making preparations on 
both sides. 

At 8 o'clock on the 18th October, the battle was 
renewed with tenfold fur>\ In the afternoon a Sa- 
xon brigade, in the midst of the action, deserted to 
the allies. Although the French army kept its 
ground most valiantly, during the whole of this tre- 
mendous day, there was no prospect of their being 
able to sustain themselves any longer around or in 
Leipsic. Accordingly, a retreat was commenced 
in the night. In the morning the allies pursued 
them with all the animation of victoiy. About II 
o'clock, the bridge was blown up, that the 'allies 
might not take possession of it. Many of the 
French were killed and drowned!. And about 25,000 
received quarter from the enemy, and were made 
pi-isoners. The quantity of baggage was immense. 

On the 22d of October, Napoleon reached Er- 
furt, a convenient rallying point, he passed nearly 
two davs there, and reoi*ganised his troops. The 
reassembled force amounted only to about SOjOOO, 



m HFE AND GAMPAI&NS OE 

Upon the 30th, the Bavarians had occupied the 
large wood of Lambar, that they migt intercept his 
retreat. A sharp action took place, and the Bara- 
rians were worsted with the loss of upwards ot 
10,000. The French lost about 6000. 

On the 9th of November, Napoleon arrived at 
Paris, here his presence was much required, the 
temper of the public was by no means tranquil. 
The rupture of the armistice seemed to be the date 
of his declension. Nine battles had been fought 
since that period, including the action at Culm, 
which, in its results, is well entitled to the name. 
Of them, Buonaparte only gained two— those of 
Dresden and Hanau. 

At the conclusion of the year 181S, only the fol- 
lowing places, beyond the Rhine, remained in the 
hands of the French ;— Hamburg, Magdeburg, 
Wittenberg, Custriii, Glogau, with the citadels of 
Erfurt and of Wurtzburg. 

Napoleon's affairs in Spain and Italy were equal- 
ly disastrous, this year. The battle of Vittoria hai 
entirely destroyed the authority of Joseph Buona- 
parte, and Napoleon himself resembled a furious 
madman holding a hot iron until it has scorched t« 
the bone. 

On the 14th November, the Orange flag wa§ 
hoisted at the Hague and at Amsterdam, amid the 
ancient acclamations of "Orange boven*' (up with 
the Orange). At Rotterdam, the Dutch patriots, 
showing the Orange cockade which they wore, ad- 
dressed the French general in these words: — "You 
may guess from tiiese eblotrrs the purpose which: 



WAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 197 

has brought us hither; you who are now the weak- 
est, know that we are the strongest — and we the 
strongest, know that you are the weakest. You will 
act wisely to depart from this place in quiet. " 

The reply of general Le Brun was that of a 
Frenchman, seldom willing to be outdone in polite- 
ness ; — ** I have expected the summons for some 
time, and am very willing to accede to your propo- 
sal, and take my departure immediately." 

While these scenes were passing in the vicinity 
of France, the emperor was using every effort to 
bring forward in defence of her territory, a force in 
some degree corresponding to the ideas which he 
desired men should entertain of the great natien. 
He distributed as many forces as he had along the 
line of the Rhine, unmoved by the opinions of those 
who deemed them insufficient in number to defend 
so wide a stretch of frontier. 

The emperor of Austria resolved once more to 
offer terms of peace to the emperor of France j 
but Buonaparte was as unyielding as ever. 

On the 29d January, 1S14, a scene took place that 
showed Napoleon's own consciousness of approach- 
ing danger, he called out and armed the National 
Guard of Paris, a force to which he would not have 
appealed, save in the case of the last necessity. 
He appeared among them with his empress and 
his infant child, and in a tone which penetrated 
every bosom, announced that, being about to place 
himself at the head of his army, he committed to 
the faith of the citizens of Paris the security of his 
capital, his wife, and his child, 

R 2 



U)8 IJFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 



CHAPTER XXn. 

Sircngth of the allied forces and those of the Freneh^^ 
battle of Bricnne — conflict at Hothiere — battle of 
Champcauhcrt — confess at Ckatilhn — difficntUits of 
Buonaparte — battle of Craannc — conflict at Laon — 
battle of Arcis. 

On the a5th Napoleon left that abode of royalty, 
to which he was doomed lot to return until he had 
undergone strange changes of fortune. 

The allies counting on the cost of a retreat amidst 
all the dangers incident to passing in disorder 
through a country in the possession of the enemy, 
marched slowly and undecidedly. But Napoleon, 
as firmly determined in his purpose as the allies 
were doubtful, knowing himself to be the soul of 
his army, was bold and active. The allies had pre- 
sented in the grand army a front of 97,000, mar- 
shal Bluchcr one of 40,000, affording a disposable 
force of 137,000. To oppose this, he, who so lately 
had led half a million of men to tlie Vistula, and 
COO.OOO to the banks of the Elbe, could not now 
muster, for the pi-otection of the capital of his own 
empire, a disi)osablc force of more tlian 70,000 men. 

The defensive war had no doubt considerable ad- 
vantages to one who knew so well how to as.c thc^ni* 



NAPOLBON BOUNAPARTE. 19l> 

Tlic highways, by which the allies must advance, 
formed a half or a quarter circle of rays converging 
«n Paris. A mucli smaller army might, therefore, 
oppose a large one. With this advantage of collo- 
cation to balance a great inferiority in numerical 
force, Buonaparte advanced to play for the most 
momentous stake ever disputed, with a degree of 
wiilitary skill which has never been matched. 

Arrived at Chalons on the 26th January, Buona- 
parte took the command of such an irmy a>> he had 
been able to assem1)le. He wished to attack Blu- 
cher before his communication with Prince Schwar- 
tzenberg, that he might have the advantage of com- 
bating them singly. Accordingly, on the 29th of 
Januan', Napoleon attacked the enemy at the vil- 
lage of Brienne, near the source of the Aube. 
Here a sanguinary battle was fought from house to 
house. Napoleon's own safety was compromised 
in the melee. Men were killed by his side, and 
he was obliged to draw his sword in his own de- 
fence. The result of the battle of Brienne was 
indecisive. Napoleon's principal object which was 
to divide Bluchcr from the e^and army, had altoge- 
tlicr failed. 

On the 1st Febniar>', Blucher, strongly reinfor- 
ced from the grasd army, prepared in his turn to 
assume the offensive. Blacher attacked the line of 
the French on three points, assaulting at once the 
villages of La Rothiere, Dicuville, and Chaumont. 
The conflict was hard fought during the whole day, 
but in the evening the French were repulsed on all 
points, and Buonaparte was compelled torctreat 



200 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

across the Aube, after losing 4000 prisoners, and 
no less than seventy-three guns, 

'The army under Blucher, now all intent upon 
the advance to Paris, were marching with care- 
less haste through an impracticable country, and 
had suffered ^uch large intervals to take place be- 
twixt their divisions, as to expose them to be at- 
tacked in detail. 

Buonaparte embraced this opportunity, and by a 
forced march, on the 10th of February, fell on the 
central division of AlsufiefF, at Champeaubert, sur- 
rounded, defeated, and totally dispersed them, tak- 
ing their artillery, and 2000 prisoners, while the 
remainder of the division fled into the woods, and 
attempted to escape individually. 

The advanced guard under Sacken was next 
attacked and repulsed. Blucher is next attacked, 
and obliged to retreat. This success was the cause 
of great rejoicing at Paris. Long columns of pri- 
soners moved through the streets, banners were dis- 
played; the cannon thundered, the press replied, 
and the pulpit joined, in extolling and magnifying 
the dangers which the citizens escaped, and the 
merits of their preserver. 

While INapoleon was struggling, in the cam- 
paign of Paris, for his very existence as a monarch, 
events were taking place on the frontiers, by all 
which his fate was more or less influenced, and in 
almost all of them unfavourably. In consequence of 
a treaty with Austria, Murat declared himself in 
favour of the allies. Augerau was compelled to 
abandon the country of Gex and Franche Compt^ j 



:^APOLEON BUONAP.VRTE. 101 

and the North of Germany and Flanders were 
^ually lost to France, and French interest. 

Parties too were forming in different parts of the 
empire; which endangered his fortune and his life* 

The British forces, under the duke of Welling- 
ton, were gaining brilliant successes in the south qf 
France. 

A congress had been opened at Chatillon on the 
4th of February, for the purpose of treating with 
Kapoleon, but without coming to any agreement, it 
was broken up on the 10th of March. 

The situation cf Buonaparte at this time was trti'-. 
ly distressing. If he advanced on the grand army 
©f the allies which he had in front, there were every 
likelihood that they would retire before him, wast- 
ing his force in skirmishes. On the contrary, if he 
moved his force against one part, the other part 
would march upon Paris. Thus, he could make 
no exertion upon the one side, without endangering 
his capital on the other. 

After weighing all the disadvantages on either 
side. Napoleon determined to turn his army against 
Blucher, He left Oudinot, Macdonald, and Gerard 
in front of the grand army. Accordingly, on the 
morning of the 7th of March, the French attacked 
Blucher's army, which was strongly posted betwixt 
the village of Craonne and the town of Laon. The 
assault was met by a defence equally obstinate and 
the contest became one cf the best sustained and 
most bloody during the war. 

Towards evening the Russians were ordered tQ 
withdraw, and unite with the Prussian army on the 



202 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

splendid position of Laon. There were no guns 
Ipst or prisoners made. 

We may see the determined character of Buona- 
parte in the following exclamation, "I see," says 
he, *'this war is an abyss without a bottom, but I 
am resolved to be the last whom it shall devour.*' 

Only the interval of one day between the bloody 
battle of Craonne and that of Laon. On the &th, 
availing himself of a thick mist. Napoleon pushed 
his columns of attack to the very foot of the emi- 
nence upon which Laon is situated, but was repel- 
led by a tremendous fire from terraces, vineyards, 
windmills, and every point of advantage. 

Upon the lOth, at four in the morning, just as 
Buonaparte, arising before day-break, was calling 
for his horse, two dragoons were brought before 
him, with the unpleasing intelligence, that the ene- 
my had made akourra tipon Marmont, cut to pieces, 
taken, or dispersed his whole division. On the 
11th he withdrew from before Laon, having been 
foiled in all his attempts, and having lost thirty 
guns, and nearly 10,000 men» The allies suffered 
comparatively little, as they fought under cover. 

Nor were the marshals Oudinot and Gerard, in 
front of the grand allied army, more fortunate. 
They were defeated at Bar-sur-Aube, and forced to 
retreat upon the great road to Paris. 

Napoleon being at Rheims, on the 15th and 16th 
of March, was alarmed by the news of the loss of 
the battle of Bar. He, therefore, left Rheims, on 
the 17th, and on the morning of the 20th took pos- 
session of Arcis. Here a bloody battle ensued, and 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 203 

Napoleon as usual showed the most heroic courage, 
he drew, his sword threw himself among the broken 
cavalry, called on them to remember their former 
victories, and checked the enemy by an impetuous 
charge; he was in personal danger from th^ lance 
of a Cossadc, the thrust of which was averted by 
his aide-de-camp, Girardin. Arcis was repeatedly 
and desperately attacked by the allies, but the 
French made good their position, night alone sepa- 
rated the combatants, by inducing the allies to desist 
from the attack. 

Next day Napoleon commenced a retreat, the 
direction of which was doomed to prove the crisis 
of his fate. He retired along both sides of the 
Aube. 



i2Qf LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 



CHAPTER XXIIL 

jyapoleon passes to the rear of the allles-^ihe allies adt 
vance upon Paris — attack it on the 30th ofMdrch^-ia- 
state of parties in Paris-^the allies enter Paris — pror 
ceedings of Napoleon. 

Napoleon's affairs were drawing nigh a crisis. 
The manoeuvres of Schwartzenberg and Blucher 
tended evidently to form a junction. It would have 
been frenzy to wait till they both closed upon him. 
Two courses, therefore, remained; either to draw 
back within the closing circle, and retreating before 
them until he had collected his forces, malting a 
stand under the walls of Paris, or on the contrary, to 
march eastward, and operate on the rear of the al- 
lies, and on their lines of communication. He chose 
the latter, with the expectation of being reinforced 
by the warlike peasantry of Alsace and French 
Compte, Marmont and Mortier were left in front 
of the allies, that they might retard their advance. 
They were overpowered, however, by the allies, 
and obliged to retreat under the walls of the capi- 
tal. The allies, gaining advantages at every step, 
moved on with such expedition, that when, on the* 
27th of March they took up their head- quarters at 
Collomiers, they had marched upwards of seventy 
miles in three days. On the 28th the military so- 
vereigns and their victorious armies were in sight 
of that metropolis^ whose rulcir and his soldiers had 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 205 

so often lorded in theirs; of that Paris, which un- 
satisfied witli her high rank among the cities of Eli- 
rope, had formed constant war until all should be 
subjected to her empire; of that grand city, who 
boasted herself first in arms and in science, the 
misfortune and example cf the civilized world, the 
depository of all that is wond^xful in the fine arts, 
and the dictatress as well of taste as of law to con- 
tinental Europe. 

Maria Louisa and almost all the civil authorities 
of Buonaparte's government, having left the city, 
taking with them the crown jewels, and much of the 
public treasure ; Joseph Buonaparte, on the morn- 
ing of the 29th published a proclamation, assuring 
the citizens of Paris that "he would remain with 
them." 

Between three and four o'clock on the next events- 
ful morning, the drums beat to arms, and the Na- 
tional Guard assembled. The whole of the troops, 
including many volunteers, who actively engaged in 
the defence of the city might be between 10,000 and 
20,000. 

About eight o'clock, the Parisians became sensi- 
ble, from the succession of musket-shots, which 
sounded like the detached pattering of large drops 
©f rain before a thunder-storm, that the work of de- 
struction was already commenced. After various 
attacks and repulses on both sides, the emperor 
Alexander proposed fair terms to Joseph, provided 
he surrendered the city before the barriers were 
forced. An armistice was granted, deputies were 
appointed on both sidesi to adjust the termfs of sifr^ 

S 



^6 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Tender, The French troops were permitted to re- 
tire from Paris unmolested, and the metropolis was 
next day to be delivered up to the allied sovereigns, 
to whose generosity it was recommended. 

Thus ended the assault of Paris, after a bloody ac- 
tion, in which the defenders lost upwards of 4000 
killed and woundec!, and the allies, who had to 
storm well-defended batteries, redoubts, and en- 
trenchments, perhaps twice the nuraiber. 

Upon the night after the assault, many secret 
conclaves were held in the city of Paris. Parties of 
Buonapartists, Revolutionists and Royalists, the last 
mentioned were seen, on the morning Of the 31st, in 
groups in the pilace Louis Quince, the garden of the 
Tuileries, and other public placesa They distribut- 
ed the proclamations of the allies, and raised the 
long-forgotten cry of Five le Roil Whdle pic^ 
quets began to adopt the white, instead of the tri- 
coloured cockade ; yet the voices were far from be- 
ing unanimous, and on many points parties of differ- 
ent principles met and skirmished together in the 
streets. 

But the tendency to discord was diverted and the 
attention of the Parisians, of all classes and opinions, 
suddenly fixed upon the imposing a»d terrible spec- 
tacle of tlie armies of the allies, which now be- 
gan to enter thp city. All Paris seemed to be 
assembled and concentrated in onespot^ — one spring 
evidently directed their motions. They throng- 
ed around the monarchs, with the most unanimous 
shouts of " Vive VEmpereur Alexanderl — Vive le 
Roi ds PrusseV^ mingled with-4he loyal exclama- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. iOT 

tions, ** Vive ie Roi — Vive Louis XVIII! Vivent 
les Bourbons \" The procession lasted for several, 
hours, and after making the circuit of half Paris, 
the monarchs halted in the Champs Elys6es, and 
the troops passed in review before them as they 
were dismissed to their quarters in the city. 

When the enthusiasm attending the entrance of 
the allies began to subside, the perilous question oc- 
cured to those who had embarked in this new revo- 
lution, where were Napoleon and his army. That 
terrible and evil spirit, who had so long haunted 
their very dreams, and who had been well termed 
the night-mare of Europe, was not yet conjuf^d 
down. All trembled for the consequence of his re- 
turning suddenly in full force. But their fears were 
without foundation. He proceeded eastward from 
Vitry at St. Disier. Here he was joined by Cau- 
laincourt, who informed him of the dissolution of 
the Congress at Chatillon. On the 24th March, 
Napoleon halted at Doulevent to concentrate his for- 
ces, and gain intelligence, for he expected that the 
grand army would turn, and pursue him ; and it 
was not until the 27th, that he learned the real state 
of the case ; that both the allied armies had march- 
ed to Paris ; and that the cavalry with, which he 
had skirmished, were 10,000 men under Winzinge- 
rode, left by the allies as a curtain to screen their 
motions, and engage his attention.. Every word of 
this news had a sting in it. To hasten after the al- 
lies to surprise them if possible, ere the cannon on 
Montmartre were yet silenced was the most ur- 
gent tliought that ever actuated the mind even of 



208 f,IFE AND CAJMPAIftNS OP 

Napoleon, so accustomed to high and desperate 
lisks. On the 29th March, he reached Troyes, the 
Imperial Guard having marched that day fifteen, 
leagues. 

On the 30th, Napoleon left Troyes in a post-car* 
riage, and travelled on at full speed before his ar- 
my, with a very slight attendance. On arriving 
at the inn, called La Cour de France, he met ge- 
neral Belliard, with his Cavalry, and the fatal intel- 
ligence. Leaping from his carriage. Napoleon turn- 
ed back with Belliard, exclaiming,— "what means 
this? Why here with your cavalry, Belliard? And 
where are the enemy?" — *• At the gates of Paris.'' 
-—"And the army?"— -"It is following me."— 
** Where are my wife and son? Where Marmont^ 
Where Moitier?" — -"The empress set out for 
Rambouiliet, and thence for Orleans. The mar- 
shals are busy completing their arrangements at 
Paris. " Napoleon, when he had despatched Cau- 
laincourt to Paris, no longer to negotiate, but to re-' 
ceive and submit to such terms as the allied sove- 
reigns might be incUned to impose upon him, re^ 
tojrned to Fontaiaiebleai* the sam© nighh 



NAPOLEON. BUONAPARTE. £69^ 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Tke Senate decrees the forfeiture of Napoleon — Napole- 
on abdicates the throne of France — the commanders 
have an interview with the emperor Jilexander — the 
terms granted Buonaparte — remarlcs on the policy of 
these terms — general desertion of Napoleon — the em- 
press Maria Louisa:' rcturris to her father's protectioti-— 
death of Josephine. 

We now return to the transactions in Paris. The 
emperor Alexander, the king of Prussia, and 
prince Schwartzenberg, also general Pozzo di Bor- 
go, Nesselrode, Lichtenstein, the duke Dalberg, 
baron Louis, the abbe de Pradt, and others, were 
met in the hotel of Talleyrand, where the principal 
royalists waited on them to crave an audience. 
Three points were discussed. 1. The possibility 
of a peace with Napoleon, upon sufficient guaran- 
tees. 2. The plan of a regency. 3. The resto- 
ration of the Bourbons, After various debates, it 
•was at length agreed, that the third proposition, — 
the restoration of the ancient family , and the ancient 
limits, — should be the terms adopted for the settle- 
ment of France. Therefore, on the 2d and 3d 
April, the Senate declared and deci^edy 1st, that 
Napoleon Buonaparte had forfeited tl:^ throne, and 
the right of inheritance established in\his family. 
2d, that the people and army of France (were disen- 
gaged and freed from the oath of fidelity, which 
they had made to Napoleon and his constitution.. 

In the night betwixt the 2d and Sd of April, Cau- 

»S 2 



219 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

laincourt returned from his mission to Paris, and re- 
ported the transaction to Buonaparte. On the 4th, 
Buonaparte reviewed a part of his troop, addressed 
them on the display of the white colours, and that 
he intended to march on the capital, to punish the 
traitors. He was answered by shouts of "Paris, 
Paris ! '* and had no reason to fear that the troops 
would hesitate to follow him in his last effort. But 
after the review was over, Berthier, Ney, Macdo- 
nald, Caulaincourt, Oudinot, Bertrand and other 
officers of the highest rank, followed him into his 
apartment, and dissuaded him from the attempt, 
and persuaded him to abdicate the crown. 

With considerable reluctance, and after long de« 
bate. Napoleon wrote the following words: — 

*' The allied powers having proclaimed that the 
emperor Napoleon is the sole obstacle to the rc-es-- 
tablishmcnt of peace in Europe, the emperor Na- 
poleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he is ready 
to descend from the throne, to quit France, and 
even to relinquish life, for the good of the country, 
■which is inseparable from the rights of his son, 
from those of the regency in the person of the em- 
press, and from the maintenance of the laws of the 
empire. Done at our Palace of Fontainebleau, 4th 
April, 1814," 

When the terms were in the act of being adjust- 
ed, the marshals desired to know upon what stipu- 
lations they were to insist on Napoleon's personal 
behalf, ** Upon none — '* said Buonaparte. Do 
■what you can to obtain the best terms for France ; 
for myself I ask nothing,*' 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 2U 

When the marshals arrived at Paris, they in- 
stantly dbtained their introduction to the emperor. 
Alexander, who received them with his usual cour- ' 
tesy. **On the general subject of their mission," 
he said " he could not treat but in concert with his 
allies." But he enlarged on the subject of Napole- 
on personally. He mentioned the plan, which was 
afterwards adopted ; that Buonaparte should retain 
the Imperial title over a small territory, with an 
ample revenue, guai^ds, and other emblems of dig- 
nity. **The place,'* continued the emperor of 
Russia, ** may be Elba, or some other island." 

When the marshals returned, he listened to the i 
news of the failure of their negotiation, as a termi- 
nation which he had expected. 

After a night's consideration, the fallen chief 
took this resolution, and despatched Caulaincourt 
and Macdonald with an unconditional abdication of 
the empire. The document was the same as the 
former, except, that he renounced for himself and 
his heirs the throne of France. I 

Notwithstanding his having adopted this course, ' 
he continued to nourish thoughts of breaking it off. i 
Having reviewed his old guard ; he retired into the i 
palace, and summoned Oudinot before him. *' May 
I depend on the adhesion of the troops?" — Oudinot 
replied in the negative, and reminded Napoleon that 
he had abdicated. — "Ay, but on conditions," said 
Napoleon — "Soldiers donot understand conditions," 
said the marshal; "they look on your power as 
terminated." — " Then that is all over," said Napp- 1 
Icon ; " let ITS wait for the news from Par^. " 



211 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Macdonald, Caulaincourt, and Xey, soon after- 
wards arrived at Fontainebleau, with a treaty con- 
taining such terms as never were granted to a de- 
throned monarch, and which have little chance to 
be conceded to such a one in future, while the por^r- 
teutons consequences are preserved by history. By 
these conditions, Buonaparte was to remain empe- 
ror, but, his sway was to be limited to the island of 
Elba. He was to be recognised as one of the 
heads of Europe — was to be allowed body-guards, 
and a navy on a scale suitable to the limits of his 
dominion, with a revenue of six millions of francs, 
over and above the revenues of the Isle of Elba. 
Two million and a half were also assigned in pen- 
sions to his brothers, Josephine, and the other mem- 
bers of his family. It was well argued, that if Buo- 
naparte deserved such advantageous terms of re- 
tirement, it was injustice to dethrone him. Nor 
were the other points more reconcilable with sound 
policy. The name, dignity, military authority, 
and absolute power of an emperor, conferred on 
the potentate of such Liliputian Domains, were lu- 
dicrous if it was supposed that Napoleon would re- 
main quiet in his retreat, and hazardous if he should 
seek the means of again agitating Europe. 

The other stipulations of this extraordinary trea- 
ty divided a portion of revenue secured to Napoleon 
among the members of his family. The most ra- 
tional was that which settled upon Maria Louisa 
and her son the duchies of Parma, Piacentia, and 
Guastalla, in full sovereignty. 

It was not till the bad effects of this singular trea- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 2,13 

ty had been experienced that men enquired why 
and on what principle it was at first conceded. A 
great personage has been mentioned as its original 
author, possessed of many good and highly honoura- 
ble qualities, and a steady and most important mem* 
ber of the great European confederacy. It is doing 
the memory of the emperor Alexander no injury to 
suppose, that popular applause, — the contagious air 
of Paris, — the shouts, — the flattery, — the success to 
a point hitherto unhoped for, — the wish to drown 
unkindness of every sort, and to spread a feast from 
which no one should rise discontented,-— the desire, 
so sum all up in one word, to show magnanimity in 
the hour of success, seem to have laid Alexander's 
heart m«re open than the mles of wisdom or pru- 
dence ought to have permitted. There was one 
power whose representative foresaw the evils which 
such a treaty might occasion, and remonstrated 
against them. But the evil was done, and the par- 
ticulars of the treaty adjusted, before Lord Castle- 
reagh came to Paris, and the English government 
became a party to the treaty no farther than by ac- 
ceding to it so far as the territorial arrangements 
were concerned. 

Misfortunes were now accumulating so fast a- 
round Napoleon, that they seemed of force suificient 
to break the most stubborn spirit. On every side 
the French officers, at well as soldiers, were leav- 
ing his service ; he had no longer the power of de- 
parting from the palace in safety. The bosom 
friends, courtiers, dependants, and even the domes- 
ties of the BEnf^rtunate Napoleon, dropt off, fikfe 



214 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

leaves from the fading tree, under different pre- 
texts to give in their adhesion to the Bourbons, and 
provide for their ovm fortune in the new world 
which had commenced at Paris. 

The family c9nnections, and relatives of Napole- 
on, as well as his familiar friends, were separated 
from him in this general wreck. We mentioned 
before, that several members of Napoleon's admi' 
stration, with Maria L'ouisa, fled from the ap- 
proaching action. They halted at Blois, where 
count Schouwalow, one of the Austrian ministers, 
arrived to take the empress under his protection. 
Shortly afterwards, the emperor of Austria visited 
his daughter and her son, then at Rambouillet, and 
took them under his own protection. 

We must not omit to add to this tale of calamity, 
the death of Josephine, the former wife of Buona- 
parte. She was amply provided for by the treaty 
of Fontainebleau, but did not survive to reap any 
benefit from the provision. She was buried on the 
3d of June, at the village of Ruel. 

We cannot close this chapter, without adverting 
for a moment to the mass of misfortunes with which 
Buonaparte was overwhelmed at this crisis. All 
that three years before seemed inalienable from his 
person, was now reversed. The victor was defeat- 
ed, the monarch was dethroned, the ransomer of 
prisoners was in captivity, the general was desert- 
ed by his soldiers, the master abandoned by his do- 
mestics, the brother parted from his brethren, the 
husband severed from his wife, and the father tor» 
from his only child. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPAilTfi. 215 



TCHAPER XXV. 

JSapokon leaves Fontainel) eau — expressions of popular 
dislike towards Napoleon in the South of France — he 
arrives at Fregus—he embarks on board the Undaunted 
— arrives at Elba--Elba — Buonaparte's mode of life 
and occupation there — his pecuniary difficulties— *he es- 
capes from Elba. 

Napoleon having now resigned himself entirely to 
his fate, whether for good or evil, prepared, on the 
20th of April 1814, to depart for his place of re- 
treat. But first, he had the painful task of bidding 
farewell to his celebrated Imperial guard. He ex- 
horted them to be faithful to the new sovereign 
whom France had chosen. **Do not lament my 
fate ; I will always be happy while I know that you 
are so,-— Adieu, my children. — Adieu, my brave 
companions, — surround me once more — Adieu." 
Drowned in grief the veteran soldiers heard the fare- 
well of their dethroned leader, and resigned, like 
him to necessity. 

Napoleon was attended by Bertrand and Drouet, 
honourably faithful to the adverse fortunes of the 
master who had been their benefactor when in pros- 
perity. Four delegates from the allied powers ac- 
companied him to his new dominions. Their names 
were, — general ShouvalofF, on the part of Russia ; 
the Austrian general Kohler; colonel Sir Niel 



916 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

Campbell, as rcprescntinj:^ Great Britain ; and the 
general baron Truchsess Waldbourj^, as the com- 
inissioncr of PiTissia, Napoleon received the three 
first with much personal civiht}-, but it galled him 
that Pi'ussia should assume an immediate share in 
deciding upon his fate. 

He received the English commissioner with par- 
ticular expressions of esteem, saying he desired 
to pass to Elba in an English vessel, and was plea- 
sed to have tlie escort of an EngUsh officer. ** Your 
nation,'* he said, *' has an elevated character, for . 
which I have the highest esteem. I desired to raise 
the French people to such a pitch of sentiment, 
but—," he stopt, and seemed much affected. 

Napoleon left Fontainebleau on the 20th April 
1814, at eleven o'clock in the morning. His retinue 
occupied fourteen carriages, and required relays of 
thirty pairs of post horses. On the 23d he arrived 
at Lyons; on the 24th at Montelimart, there the ex- 
iled emperor heard the last expressions of regard 
and sympathy. He was now approaching Pro- 
vence, a region of which he had never possessed the 
affections, and was greeted with execrations and 
cries of, — Perish the Tyrant"— * 'Down with the 
butcher of o»ir children!" Matters looked worse 
as they advanced. On Monday 25th, he arrived at 
Avignon, and it was with difficulty that he was 
saved from popular fury. He was grossly insulted 
in every town and village, and, but for the anxious 
interference of the commissioners he would pror- 
bably have been torn to pic es. 

At length he arrived at Fregus*, the very port 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. «7 

that rec«iTed him, when, coming from Egypt, he 
was on the verge of commencing that astonishing 
career, now about to terminate, to all earthly ap- 
pearance; at the very point from which he had 
started. On the night of the 28th at eleven o'clock. 
Napoleon embarked on board his Britanic Maje- 
sty's ship the Undaunted, commanded by captain 
Usher, under a salute of twenty-one guns. "Adieu, 
Csesar, and his fortune," said the Russian envoy. 
The Austrian and the British commissioners ac- 
companied him on his voyage. 

During the passage, Buonaparte seemed to re- 
cover his spirits, and conversed with great frank- 
ness, ease, and good humour, with captain Usher 
and Sir Niel Campbell. On the 4th of May, they 
arrived within sight of Porto Ferrajo, the principal 
town of Elba. The inhabitants had been recently 
in a state of insurrection against the French, which 
naturally increased Napoleon's apprehensJions for 
his personal safety. At an early hour, he landed 
in disguise, and returned on board to breakfast. 
About two o'clock, the emperor of Elba, as he 
may now be styled, with the commissioners, went 
on shore in form, receiving, at leaving the Undaunt- 
ed, a royal salute. He was received by the go- 
vernor, prefect, and other official persons, with such 
means of honor as they possessed, who conducted 
him to the Hotel-dc-Ville in procession, preceded 
by a wretched band of fiddlers. 

The mighty limits of Napoleon's empire was now 
contracted to Elba, an island opposite to Tuscany, 
about sixty miles in circumference. The country 



218 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

is mountainous and healthy, and having all the flo- 
rid vegetation of Italy, is, in general, of a romantie 
character. He professed to be perfectly resigned 
in his fate, and said his intentions were, to devote 
himself to science and literature. But one day, as 
he climbed a mountain above Perrajo, and saw the 
ocean approach its feet in almost every direction, 
the expression broke from him, accompanied with 
a good-humoured, "It must be confessed my isle 
is very little." 

In the course of two or three days, travelling 
^th his usual rapidity, and showing the same im- 
patience of rest or delay. Napoleon had visited 
every spot in his little island, worthy of notice. He 
had meditated improvements respecting every one 
©fthem, Oneofhisfirst and perhaps most charac- 
teristic proposals, was to extend his Liliputian 
dominions by the occupation of an uninhabited is- 
land, called Rianosa. In an incredibly short time 
Kapoleon had also planned several roads, had con- 
trived means to convey water from the mountain to 
Porto Ferrajo, designed two palaces, one for the 
country, the other in the city, a separate mansion 
for his sister Pauline, a lazaretto, stables, 8cc, He 
ended by establishing several places of residence in 
the different quarters of the island, and as his 
amusement consisted in constant change and alter- 
tion, he travelled from one to another with the rest- 
lessness of a bird in a cage. He was like the 
thorough-bred gamester, who deprived of the means 
of depositing large stakes will rather play at small* 
game than leave the table. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. «• 

The interior of Napoleon's household, though re- 
duced to thirty-five persons still held the titles, and 
affected the rank, proper to an imperial court, ot 
which it will be presently seen the petty sovereign 
made a political use. His body-guard, of about 700 
infantry and 80 cavalry seemed to occupy as much 
of Napoleon's attention as the grand army did for- 
merly. Sundry parties of reciniits came over to 
Elba from Italy to enlist in his guards. Napoleon's, 
conduct towards the refugees who found their way 
to Elba, may he judged from the following sketch. 
On the 11th of July, Colomboni, commandant of a 
battalion of the 4th regiment of the line in Italy was 
presented to the emperor as newly arrived. Well,. 
Colomboni, your business in Elba?" — "First, to pay 
my duty to your majesty; secondly, to offer myself 
to carry a musket among your guards." — That is 
too low a situation, you must have something bet- 
ter," said Napoleon, and instantly named him to aa 
appointment of 1200 francs yearly. 

About the middle of summer. Napoleon was visife- 
ed by his mother, and his sister the princess Pau- 
line. At this time, too, he seems to have expect- 
ed to be rejoined by his wife Maria Louisa but was 
refused a request, which would have been granted 
to a felon condemned to transportation. About thfr 
middle of May, baron Kohler took farewell of Na- 
poleon, to return to Vienna. Colonel Sir Niel Camp- 
bell, therefore, was the only one of the four commis- 
sioners who continued to remain at Elba. It was 
difficult to say what his office really was, or what 
were his instructions. He had neither power. 



no urn and camtaigns of 

title, nor means to interfere with Napoleon's no- 
tions, as tlie emperor had been recognised by treaty 
as an independant sovereign. For a considerable 
time Napoleon seemed to seek the society of the 
British envoy, held frequent intercourse with him, 
and conversed with apparent confidence upon pub- 
lic affairs. Towards the latter end of 1814 however 
Sir Niel Campbell became sensible that Napoleon 
desired to exclude him from his presence as much 
as possible. His only opportunity of obtaining ac- 
cess to Napoleon was on his return from short ab- 
sences to Leghorn and Florence, when his atten- 
dance on the Icvcc was matter of etiquette. As the 
winter approached, a change was discemable in 
Napoleon's manners and habits. The alterations 
which he had planned in the island no longer gave 
him the same interest; and he renounced, from time 
to time, the severe exercises in which he had at 
first indulged, used a carriage rather than his horse, 
and sunk accasionally into fits of deep contempla- 
tion, mingled with gloomy anxiety. 

His pecuniary affairs too became embarrassing, 
because, France did not fulfil her engagement. Sir 
Niel Campbell, repeatedly gave it as his opinion, 
that, if these difficulties pressed upon him much 
longer, so as to prevent liim from continuing the 
external show of a court, he was perfectly capable 
of crossing over to Piombino with his troops, or com- 
mitting any other extravagance." 

In the beginnig of the year 1816, it was evident 
that Napoleon was preparing the minds of the mili- 
tary of France for what was to ensue. Having 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 321 

granted discharges and furlouglis to two or three 
hundred of his old guard, they disseminated the p>er- 
suasion, that he would soon appear to reclaim hit 
rights. 

At Icnj^th Mariatti, the French consul at Leg- 
horn, and Spannoki, the Tuscan governor of that 
town informed Sir Niel Campbell that it was cer- 
tainly determined at Elba, that Buonaparte, with 
his guards, should embark for the continent. On 
the 25th of February, the Partndge having come 
to Leghorn and fetched off Sir Niel Campbell, the 
appearance, as the vessel approached Porto Fer- 
rajo on her retum, of the national guard on the bat- 
teries, instead of the crested grenadiers of the Im- 
perial guard, at once apprised the British resident 
of what had happened. When he landed, he found 
the mother and sister of Buonaparte in a well as- 
sumed agony of anxiety about the fate of their em- 
peror, of whom they affected to know nothing ex- 
cept that he had steered towards to cost of Bar- 
bary. The British envoy immediately re-embar- 
ked, and set sail in pursuit of the adventurer. But 
it was too late. 

The present most bold and daring action had been 
encouraged by the changes which had taken place 
in France, to which we return in our next chapter. 



J 



T ; 



i!22 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS Ot' 



CHAPTER XXYI. 

Jlestora/ion of the liourhons-^iUirpleasimi to the Sol- 
diery — temis granted to France by the, lilies — state of 
parties in France — the Jacobins Join the Buuuapar- 
tists— active intrigues commcncal — Con'^ress at /7- 
tnna. 

Wk must now look back to the rc-cstablishmtiit 
of the Bourbons \\\ym\ tJie throne in 1811, an event 
wliicli took i)hic.c under chTumstances so uncom- 
mon us to txcitc extravagant exiRCtations of nation- 
al felicity. For a time all had been gay and rose 
coloured. Louis XVIII, respectable for his liter- 
ary acquirements, and the practice of domestic 
virtues, amiable also from a mixture of bon hom- 
7niCf and a talent for saying witty things, was receiv- 
ed in the ca])ital of his kingdom with acclamations 
in which thi- soldiei's alone did not cordially join. 
The higher and middle classes in general; except- 
ing those who were direct losers by the dethit>ne- 
ment of Napoleon, hailed with sincere satisfaction 
the prospect of peace, tranquility, and freedom. 

The allied monarchs, on their part did every 
thing to favour the Bourbon family, and relaxed 
most of the harsh and unpalatable conditions which 
they had anufxed to their proposed treaty with 
Buuii 'Served not only m* •deration, 

but a .-UAiicU dvlicacy towaids the feelings of the 
I-'rrnrb, which iJnust s:i\(nired of romantic p:ene- 



NAPOLEON DUONAPARTE. 225 

io->ilv. They announced to the public, that the 
whole French pnsoncrs of war were at once re- 
stored to the bosom of their country without any 
inquiry concerning their principles, or the part 
they were likely to take in future internal divisions. 
Meanwhile, Louis Stanislaus Xavier ascended 
ue throne of France and adopted not only the foiin 
most consonant to ancient usage, but that which he 
thought most likely to satisfy botli the royalist and 
he revolutionary parties. But Ijoth parties were 
1 athcr displeased at what they considered as lost, 
than {^ratified at wliat the y ^^ained by this arrange- 
iiu nt. 'i'hc royalists rei^arded the constitution, 
with its concessions, as a voluntaiy abandonment 
of the royali prerogative, while the revolutionary 
party exclaimed, that the receiving the charter 
from the King as aji act of his will, was in itself a 
badge of sei'\itudc. And thus the very granting 
the object (^f their desires was made the subject of 
new complaints. 

Thus setting out with vaiying and contradictoiy 
(Opinions of the nature and origin of the new consti- 
tution, the parties in the state regarded it rather as 
a fartress to be attacked and dcfetided, than as a 
temple in which all men were called to worship. 
At this period the French might be divided into 
three distinct arid active parties — royalists; liberals 
of every shade, down to Ucpublicans; and Buo- 
napartists. The royalists, while they added little 
real strength to the King by their numbers, at- 
tracted ranch jealous observation from their high 
birth and equally high pretentions, embroiled his 

I 



224 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

affairs by their imprudent zeal ; embittered his 
peace by their just and natural complaints; and 
drew suspicion on his government at every effort 
"which he made to serve and relieve them. They 
consisted chiefly of the emigrant nobles and clergy. 

The former class were greatly reduced in num- 
ber by war and exile; the latter were reduced to 
indigence, and consequently without influence, for 
Buonaparte, who had his reason for fearing the in- 
fluence of the clerg)', adopted and followed this 
maxim, viz. "We will not put down the ecclesias- 
tical establishment by force; we will starve it to 
death." 

Whilst tiie nnalists rather sapped and encum- 
bered then supported the throne to which they ad- 
liered, their errors were carefully pointed out, cir- 
culated, and exaggerated, by the Jacobin, or as 
they called themselves, the patriotic party. This 
faction, small in number but formidable from their 
audacity, their union, and the recollection of their 
former power,consisted of ex-gent rals, ex-ministers 
and functionaries, men of letters: and philosophers, 
Camot and Fouche, formidable names, and revo- 
lutionists from their youth upward, were the lea- 
ders of their active party. During the government 
of Buonaparte, thisjacobinal party was repressed by 
a strong hand, but the return of the Bourbons called 
them into life, like the sun which thaws the frozen 
adder; but it was only to show how they hated the 
beams which revived them. 

The party of imperialists, or Buonapartists, if we 
lay the army out of view, was small and unimpor- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. t» 

tant. It consisted of courtiers, prefects, commis- 
sioners, clerks, and commissaries, whose present 
means and future hopes were cut off. But the 
real and tremendous strength of the Buonapartists 
lay in the attachment of the existing army to its 
abdicated general. A great mass of past glory still 
adhered to the name of Napoleon; and his troops 
and partisans had no difficulty in finding reasons for 
his failures in unforeseen circumstances, and in the 
perfidious desertion of his former allies. The pride 
of the nation, co-operating with this feeling, spum- 
ing at the idea of being conquered. As soon therefore, 
ainhe joy of present relief, from danger had subsid- 
ed, a spirit of discontent manifested itself in ani- 
mosity against the allies, and in disaffection to a 
government which they considered had been impos- 
ed upon them by foreign arms, 

Louis and tlie charter were the two chief objects 
of the Jacobins* hatred, and to get rid of them they 
determined on a union with the Buonapartists. 
When or how this league was formed, we have no 
opportunity of knowing. But so soon as the coali- 
tion was formed Buonaparte's praises were sung 
forth on all sides, and some of liis most decided ene- 
mies, and a great part of the French public, were 
disposed to think of Buonaporte at Elba more fa- 
vorably than Napoleon in the Tuilleries. Eveiy 
instance of his activity, within the little circle of 
his dominions, was contrasted with the constitutional 
inertness of the restored monarch. 

Various affiliations and points of rendezvous were 
now arranged to recruit for parti zani. Even the 






996 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

ladies of the ex-eraperor*8 court were zealous a- 
gents in those political intrigues. The violet was 
adopted as a symbol to express their hopes, that 
Buonaparte's glories would revive in the spring; 
and Napoleon himself was called Corporal Violet. 
The flower and the colour were publicly worn as a 
party distinction before the Bourbons, who seeming 
to slumber at the Tuillerics, had taken the least 
alarm; and the health of Buonaparte under the 
name of corporal Violet, or Jean d*Epce,was pledg- 
ed by many a royalist without suspicion of the con- 
cealed meaning. Paris was the centre of the plot; 
but its ramifications extended through France. 
Clubs were fonned in the chief provincial towns, 
and a regular correspondence were established be- 
tween them and the capital. 

While the royal govenimcnt in France was 
thus gnidually undermined and prepared for an 
cxplosi«n, the rest of Europe resembled an ocean 
in the act of settling after a mighty storm, when 
the partial wreck is visible, heaving on the subsi- 
ding swell, which threatens yet further damage ere 
it be entirely lulled to rest A Congress of repre- 
sentatives from the principal states of Eui*ope had 
met at Vienna in order to arrange the confused and 
complicated interest which had arisen out of twen- 
ty-five years of constant war. But so totally chan- 
ged were, not merely the social relations and re- 
lative powers of Europe, but the habits, senti- 
ments, and principles of the inhabitants, that it ap- 
peared altogether impossible to restore the original 
system as it existed before 1792. Amid the labors 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. i27 

of the Congress, their attention was turned to the 
kingdom of Naples ; Murat it seemed had changed 
sides once more, and renewed his intercourse with 
Napoleon. The contiguity of Elba to Naples 
i*endered this a matter of little difficulty. Napole- 
on, however, always resolutely denied that he had 
any share or knowledge of the enterprise which 
Murat meditated. 



y 



528 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Buonaparte* s escape from Elba — he lands at Cannes^ 
and advances through France — arrives at Grenoble, 
and is joined by 3000 men — halls at Lyons — appoints 
a ministry^ and issues several decrees— revolt oj the 
Bourbon army at Melun. 

Having cursorily glanced over the movements 
in France, which paved the way for Napoleon's en- 
trance, we will now attend to his more immediate 
concerns. It is impossible to know at what parti- 
cular period of Napoleon's residence in Elba, he 
gave an express consent to what was proposed, and 
disposed himself to assume the part destined for 
him in the extraordinary drama. It is probable, 
however, it was about that time when he assumed 
the airs of an inaccessible and imperial state, to 
keep at a distance, as an inconvenient observer. 
Sir Niel Campbell, to whom he had before seemed 
rather partial. The increasing discontent of the 
French people having come to his knowledge ; the 
wheel of vicissitudes being again put in motion ; the 
mind of Napoleon became intently fixed upon the 
progress of its rotation. 

On Sunday, 26th February 1815, Napoleon em- 
barked with his guards on board the flotilla, con- 
sisting of the Inconstant brig, and six other small 
vessels. The force, with which he was once more 
to change th« fortunes of France, amounted but to 



NAPOLEON BUONAPAftTB. a» 

about 1,000 men. Napoleon encountered two 
gi'eat risks in his passage. The first was from 
meeting a royal French frigate, who hailed the In- 
constant. The guards were ordered to put off tlieir 
caps, and go below, while the captain of the In- 
constant exehanged some civilities with the com- 
mander of the frigate, and was permitted to pass 
on without further inquiry. The second danger 
was caused by the pursuit of Sir Niel Campbell, in 
the Partridge sloop of war, who, following him 
with the determuiation to capture or sink the flo- 
tilla, could but obtain a distant view of the vessels 
as they landed their passengers. 

On the 1st of March, Napoleon with his fol- 
lowers disembarked at Cannes, a small sea-port in 
the gulf of Saint Juan, not far from Fregus, which 
had seen him land a single individual, returned 
from Egypt, to conquer a mighty empire j had be- 
held him set sail, a terrified exile, to occupy the 
place of his banishment ; and now again witnessed 
his return, a daring adventurer, to throw the dice 

, once more for a tlirone or a grave. Here he caused 
his followers again to assume the three-coloured 
cockade. A small party of his guard presented 
themselves before Antibes, but were made prison- 
ers by General Corsin, the govemor of the place. 
Napoleon, undismayed by a circumstance so unfa- 
voui*able, instantly began his march at the head 

1 of scarce a thousand men, towards the centre of a 

kingdom from which he had been expelled, and 

where his rival now occupied the tlirone. For 

some time the inhabitants remained doubtful, whe- 

V 



230 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

ther to assist them as friends or oppose them as in- 
vaders. A few peasants, cried vive Vemp.ereurl ; 
but the higher ranks neither countenanced nor op- 
posed them. On the evening of the 2d March, the 
little band reached Ceremin, having left behind . 
them their small train of artillery, in order to ena- 
ble them to make forced marches. As Napoleon 
approached Dauphine, the peasants greeted him -v 
with more general welcome, and they were now 
near to those by whom the success or ruin of the 
expedition must be decided. 

On the 7th March the seventh regiment of the 
line, commanded by Colonel La Bedoyere arrived - 
at Grenoble. As Napoleon approached that city^ 
he came into contact with the outposts of the garri- 
son, who drew out, but seemed irresolute. Buona- 
parte halted his own little party, and advanced al- 
most alone, exposing his breast, as he exclaimed, 
"he who will now kill his emperor, let him now do 
his pleasure." The appeal was so irresistible — the 
soldiers threw down their arms, crowded round the 
genera], who had so often led them to victory, and 
shouted vive Vempereur\ La Bedoyere, at the 
head of two battalions, was sallying from the gates 
of Grenoble. As they advanced he displayed an 
eagle ; and at the same time, he distributed among 
the soldiers the tri-coloured cockades, which h^, 
jhad concealed in the hollow of a drum. They were 
received with enthusiasm. Marshal de Camp Des 
Villiers, alarmed at what was taking place, expos- 
tulated with the soldiers, but was compelled to re- 
tire. Napoleon was thus at the head of nearly 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 551 

3,000 soldiers, with a suitable train of artillery, and 
a corresponding quantity of ammunition. He act- 
ed with great moderation, and dismissed the loyal 
commandant of Grenoble, general Marchand un- 
. injured. 

When the first news of Napoleon's arrival reach- 
ed Paris, it excited surprise rather than alarm ; but 
when he was found to traverse the country without 
opposition, the dormant spirit of the Bourbons was 
aroused, and by the most animating proclamations 
called the people to arms. Even the females en- 
listed in the cause, as appears by the following ani- 
mating appeal to the popular feeling, made by one, 
** if Louis has not men enough to fight for him, let 
him call on the widows and childless mothers who 
, have been rendered such by Napoleon. " 
^ ■ Notwithstanding all these demonstrations of zeal, 
the public mind had been much influenced by the 
causes of discontent which had prevailed for mawy 
months past. The decided royalists were few, and 
the constitutionalists lukewarm. The progress of 
Buonaparte, in the meantime was uninterrupted. 
It was in vain, that at Lyons, Monsieur and the 
duke of Orleans, with the advice and influence 
of marshal Macdonald, endeavored to retain the 
troops in their duty, and the inhabitants in their al- 
legiance to the King. The latter, chiefly manufac- 
turers, afraid of being undersold by those of Eng- 
land in their own market, shouted openly, ^'vive 
Vemfiereur.'* The troops of the line remained si- 
lent and gloomy. "How will your soldiers be- 
have?" said Monsieur to the Ck>lonel of the 13th 



mt LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

dragoons. The Colonel referred him to the men 
themselves. They answered candidly, that they 
would fight for Napoleon alone. Monsieur dis- 
mounted, and addressed the soldiers individually. 
To one veteran, covered with scars, and decorated 
with medals the Prince said, " a brave soldier like 
you, at least will cry, vive le Roil" — you deceive 
yourself, " answered the soldier. * ' No one here will 
fight against his father — I will cry, vive JSTafioleon ! '* 
and, so soon as the advancing troops came in pre- 
sence of each other, they broke their ranks, and 
mingled in the general cry of vive Vemp.ereur, 

Buonaparte, now master of the ancient capital of 
the guards, and at the head of seven thousand men, 
was acknowledged by Macon, Chalons, Dijon, and 
almost all Burgundy, But the city of Marseilles 
set a price on his head. Napoleon found it neces- 
sary to halt at Lyons for the refreshment of his for- 
ces ; and being joined by some of the civilians of 
his party, he needed time also to organize his go- 
vernment and administration. Decrees upon de- 
crees issued forth, with a rapidity which show- 
ed how Buonaparte had employed those studious 
hours at Elba, which he was supposed to have de- 
dicated to the composition of his memoirs. They 
ran in the name of Napoleon by the grace of God, 
emperor of France, and were dated on the 13th, of 
March 1813. By the several decrees, thus issued, 
the chambers were dissolved, and a variety of chan- 
ges made, which at once embraced every part of the 
civil and military administration of the state. Cam- 
baceres was named his minister of justice ; Fouche 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 233 

that of police ; and Davoust was made minister 
of war. 

The revolutionary fever preceded Buonaparte 
like an epidemic disorder. The 14th regiment of 
lancers, quartered at Auxere, where he arrived on 
the 17th March, trampled under foot the white 
cockade at the first signal ; the sixth regiment of 
lancers declared also for Napoleon, and without 
waiting for orders, drove a few soldiers of the 
household troops from Montereau, and secured 
that important post, which commands the passage 
of the Seine. 

The dismay of the royal government was much 
increased by the revolt at Lyons. Louis XVIII, 
in his distress, had recourse to the assistance of 
marshal Ney, whom he called forth to take the 
command of the army destined to attack Napoleon 
as he marched towards Paris. He accepted his 
appointment with expressions of the most devoted 
faith to the King, and declared his resolution to 
bring Buonaparte to Paris like a wild beast in an 
iron cage. Ney, thus professing, advanced to Loup 
de Saulnier. Here, on the night betwixt the 13th 
and 14th March, he received a letter from Napole- 
on, summoning him to join his standard, as " bra- 
vest of the brave," a name which could not but 
. awake a thousand remembrances. He had already 
sounded both his officers and followers, and discov- 
ered their unalterable determination to join Buona=L 
parte. Thus had Ney remained faithful, the army 
would have passed over to Napoleon, and he must 
have returned, without the army, and without what 

V 2 



234 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

might even seem an effort at realising his boast. 
He, pretending that the expedition of Napoleon had 
long been arranged between himself and the other 
marshals, resolved upon adhering to Buonaparte. 

Marshal Ney now published an order of day, 
declaring that the cause of the Bourbons was lost 
for ever. It was received by the soldiers with 
rapture, and Buonaparte's standard and colors were 
instantly displayed. Ney was received by Napo- 
leon with open arms. 

Notwithstanding these unpromising circumstan- 
ces, the King used every effort to induce his sub- 
jects to continue in their allegiance. He attended 
in person the sitting of the chamber of Deputies ; 
reviewed the national g\iards ; and inspected the 
troops of the line, but his reception with the last 
was equivocal. They placed their caps on their 
bayonets, in token of respect, but they raised no 
shout. As a last resource, Louis convoked a gene- 
ral council at the Tuilleries on the ISth March. The 
generals present declared there could be no effec- 
tual opposition offered to Buonaparte. At length, 
Louis was obliged to break up the meeting, and 
prepare himself to abandon a capital, which the 
prevalence of his enemies, and the disunion of his 
friends, left him no longer any chance of defending. 

Meantime the two armies approached eacli other 
at Melun ; that of the King was commanded by the 
faithful Macdonald. On the 20th, his troops were 
drawn up in three lines to receive the invaders, 
who were said to be advancing from Fontainebleau. 
After a long pause of suspense, their attention was 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 236 

excited by the galloping of horses. At length an 
open carriage appeared, surrounded by a few hus- 
sars, and drawn by four horses. It came on at full 
speed ; and Napoleon jumping from the vehicle, 
was in the midst of the ranks whicli had been form- 
ed to oppose him. His escort threw themselves 
from their horses, mingled with their ancient com- 
rades, and the effect of their exhortations was in- 
stantaneous. There was a general shout of vive 
JVa/ioleonI Thus the last army of the Bourbons 
passed from their side, and no further obstacle ex- 
isted betwixt Napoleon and the capital, which he 
was once more — but for a brief space — to inhabit as 
a sovereign. 



23« LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

T%c King leaves Paris, and Buonaparte arrives there — 
his reception — Buonaparte's again reinstated on the 
throne of France, is desirous of continuing the peace 
with the allies — hut no answo' returned to his letters. 

Such a crisis of affairs rendered the King's stay 
dangerous, accordingly he departed from Paris, 
escorted by his household, at one in the morning of 
the 20th March. The revolution now took full 
effect at Paris, having no barrier in the way, La- 
valette, one of Buonaparte's most decided adhe- 
rents, hastened from a place of concealment to 
assume the management of the post-office in the «• 
name of Napoleon, an office which he had enjoyed 
during his former reign. He was thus enabled to 
intercept the royal proclamations, and announce to 
every department officially the restoration of the 
Emperor. 

Late in the evening of the 20th March, Napoleon 
arrived at Paris amid the shouts of armed columns, 
who welcomed with military acclamations the 
chief, who was to restore them to their element. 
As soon as he alighted, the people rushed on him: 
a thousand arms bore him up, and carried him in 
triumph to the Tuillerics, Here the adherents of 
the old Imperial government, and those who, hav- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 237 

ing deserted Napoleon, were eager to expiate their 
fault, by now being first to acknowledge him, were 
assembled to give voice to their welcome. They 
crowded around him as closely, that he was com- 
pelled to exclaim, — **My friends, you stifle me!" 
and his adjutants were obliged to support him in 
their arms up the grand staircase, apd thence into 
the royal apartments, where he received the all-hail 
of the principle devisers and abettors of this singular 
undertaking. 

When Paris was lost, the bow of the Bourbons 
was effectually broken; and attempts of individuals 
of the family to make a stand against the evil hour 
was honorable indeed to their own gallantly, but of 
no advantage to their cause. 

Of all the family of the Buorbons the duke and 
duchess of Angouleme alone persisted in the struggle 
against Napoleon. The duchess threw herself into 
Bordeaux, where the loyalty of Count Lynch the 
Mayor, and of the citizens in general promised her 
determined aid, and the Princess herself stood forth 
amongst them, like one of those heroic women in 
the age of chivalry, whose looks and words were 
able in moments of peril to give double edge to men's 
Bwords and double constancy to their hearts. But 
the troops had caught the general spirit from which 
the duchess, although she laid their duty before 
them in the most touching and pathetic manner, 
could not change them. But when she saw their 
coldness, and heard their faltering excuses, she 
turned from them in disdain: You fear," said she — 
*' I pity you, and release you from your oaths." 



233 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Thus all opposition to Napoleon's government 
ceased, and he was acknowledged as Emperor with- 
in about twenty days after he landed on the beach at 
Cannes, with a thousand followers. But though he 
was thus replaced on the throne, his scat was by no 
means secure, unless he could prevail upon the 
confederated Sovereigns of Europe to acknowledge 
him in the capacity of which their united arms had 
so lately deprived him. Meantime Napoleon he- 
sitated not to offer to the allied ministers his wil- 
lingness to acquiesce in the treaty of Paris. He sent 
a letter to each of the sovereigns, expressing his de- 
sire to make peace on the same principles which 
had been arranged with the Bourbons. The deci- 
sion of the allies had already been adopted. 

The Congress at Vienna happened not to be dis- 
solved, when the news of Buonaparte's escape from 
Elba was laid before them by Talleyrand on the 
11th March (1815.) The astonishing, as well as 
the sublime, approaches to the ludicrous, and it is 
a curious physiological fact, that the first news of an 
event, which threatened to abolish all their labors, 
seemed so like a trick in pantomine, that laughter 
was the first emotion it excited from almost every 
one. The merry mood did not last long ; for the 
jest was neither a sound nor a safe one. The Con- 
gress unequivocally expressed their sentiments up- 
on this occasion. Tliis declaration appeared on 
the 13th March, and after giving an account of the 
fact, bore the following denunciation : — " By thus 
breaking the convention which had established him 
in the island of Elba, Buonaparte destroys the only 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 239 

legal title on which his existence depended ; and by 
appearing again in France with projects of confusion 
and disorder, he has deprived himself of the protec- 
tion of the law, and has manifested to the universe, 
that there can be neither peace nor truce with him, 

Tlie powers consequently declare, that Napoleon 
Buonaparte has placed himself without the pale of 
civil and social relations, and that, as an enemy and 
disturber of the tranquility of the world, he has 
rendered himself liable to public vengeance. They 
fleclarc at the same time, that, firmly resolved to 
maintain entire the treaty of Paris of the 13th of 
May, 1814, and the dispositions sanctioned by that 
tteaty, and those which they have resolved on, or 
shall hereafter resolve on, to complete and consoli- 
date it, they will employ all their means, and will 
unite all their efforts, that the general peace, the ob- 
ject of the wishes of Europe, and the constant pur- 
pose C'f their labors may not again be troubled ; and 
to provide against every attempt which shall threa- 
ten to replunge the world into the disorders of re- 
volution." 

This manifesto was instantly followed by a treaty 
l)etwixt Great Britain, Austria, Pi-ussia, and Rus- 
sia, renewing and confirming the league entered into 
at Chaumont. 

While Buonaparte was actively preparing for 
Mie approaching contest, he perceived that it was 
..npossible to fulfil his promise of presenting his 
wife and son to the people on the champ de Mai, 
Stratagem remained the only resource ; and some 
Frenchmen at Vienna, with those in Maria Louisa's 



»tf) UFE AND CARIPAIGNS OP \ 

■h 
train, formed a scheme of carrying off the empress J' 

of France and her child. The plot was discovered ■> 
and prevented, and the most public steps were im- ^ 
mediately taken, to show that Austria considered ^ 
all tics with Buonaparte as dissolved for ever. \ 

Nor did the other powers in Europe show them- 
selves more accessible to his advances. He was, 
therefore, reduced to his own resources in the 
French nation. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 241 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Preparations to renew the war — the allied forces amount 
to 1,000,000 men — Buonaparte's force not more than 
200,000, — military resources of France — Napoleon^s 
plan of the campaign — Paris placed in complete state 
of defence — the frontier passes and towns fortified al- 
eo — Generals who accept command under Napoleon — he 
announces his purpose to measure himself with IVel- 
lington. 

Whilst Buonaparte was engaged in reorganizing 
his government and rallying his forces, the allies 
were making the most gigantic preparations for the 
renewal of war. 'I'he Chancellor of the exchequer of 
England had achieved a loan of 36,000,000, and the 
command of this treasure, had put the whole troops 
of the coalition into the most active advance. 

The seat of the Congress had been removed from 
Vienna to Frankfort, to be near the theatre of war. 
The emperors of Russia and Austria with the King 
of Prussia, had once more placed themselves at the 
head of their respective armies. The whole eastern 
frontier was menaced by immense forces. One 
hundred and fifty thousand Austrians disengaged 
from Murat, might enter France through Switzer- 
land, the Cantons having acceded to the coalition. 
An army equal in strength menaced the higher 
Rhine. Schwartzenberg commanded the AHitri- 



242 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

ans in chief. The archduke Constantine was nomi- 
uated Generalissimo, Barclay de Tolly, Sacken, 
Langeron, &c., were the efficient commanders. 
One hundred and fifty thousand Prussians, under 
Blucher, occupied Flanders, and were united with 
about 80,000 troops, British, or in British pay, un- 
der the duke of Wellington. There were also to be 
reckoned the contingents of the different princes of 
Germany, so that the allied were grossly computed 
to amount to upwards of 1,000,000 of men. This 
immense force, however, could not be brought for- 
ward at once. They were necessarily disposed on 
various lines for the convenience ©f subsistence, and 
were brought up successively in support of each 
other. 

To meet this immense array. Napoleon, with his 
usual talent and celerity, had brought forward 
means of surprising extent. The regular army 
diminished by the Bourbons, had been, by calling 
out the retired officers, and disbanded soldiers, in- 
creased from something rather under 100,000 men, 
to double that number of experienced troops, of the 
first quality. But this was dust in the balance ; 
and the mode of conscription was so intimately con- 
nected with Napoleon's wars of conquest and disas- 
ter, that he dared not propose to have recourse to 
the old resource of conscription, which, however, 
Buonaparte trusted he might still find effectual in 
the month of June, to the number of 300,000, In 
the meantime, it was proposed to render moveable, 
for active service, two hundred battalions of the na- 
tional Guards, choosing those most fit for duty. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 243 

which would make a force of 112,000. It was also 
proposed to levy as many federates, that is, volun- 
teers of the lower orders, as could be brought toge- 
ther in the different departments. The levy of the 
national Guards was ordered by an imperial decree 
of 5th April, 1815, and commissioners, chiefly of 
the Jacobin faction, were sent down into the differ- 
ent departments, Buonapaite being well pleased at 
once to employ them in their own sphere, and to 
get rid of their presence at Paris. 

Corps of federates had been formed in all the di- 
stricts where materials could be found of which to 
compose them. From these forces Napoleon se- 
lected a grand army to act under his personal or- 
ders. They were chosen with great care, and the 
preparation of their material was of the most ex- 
tensive and complete description. The numbers 
in gross might amount to 150,000 ; as great a num- 
ber of troops perhaps, as can conveniently move 
upon one plan of operations, or be subjected to one 
generalissimo. A large deduction is to be made to 
attain the exact aniount of his effective force. 

Thus prepared for action, no doubt was made 
that Buonaparte would open the campaign, by as- 
suming offensive operations. To wait till the ene- 
my had assembled their full force on his frontier, 
would have suited neither the man nor the moment. 
It was most agreeable to his system, his disposition, 
and his interest, to rush upon some separate army of 
the allies, surprise them, according to his own phrase 
in delict, and, by its dispersion or annihilation, give 
courage to France, animate ker to fresh exertions 



Ui LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

In his cause, intimidate the confederate powers, and 
gain time for sowing in their league the seeds of dis- 
union. Even the Royalists, whose interest was so 
immediately connected with the defeat of Buona- 
parte, were dismayed by witnessing his gigantic 
preparations, and sadly anticipated victories as the 
first result, though they ti-usted that as in 1814, he 
would be at length worn out, by force of numbers 
and reiterated exertions. 

Napoleon, however, was desirous to aim a deci- 
sive blow at the most enterprising and ventui*ous of 
the invading armies. He knew Blucher, and had 
heard of Wellington ; he therefore resolved tomovc 
against those generals, while he opposed walls and 
fortified places to the more slow and cautious ad- 
vance of the Austrian general, Schwartzcnberg, 
and trusted that distance might render ineffectual 
the progress of the Russians. 

According to this general system, Paris under 
the direction of general Haxo, was on the northern 
side placed in a complete state of defence, by a dou- 
ble line of fortifications, so that, if the first were 
forced, the defenders might retire within the se- 
cond, instead of being compelled, as in the preced- 
ing year, to quit the heights and fall back upon 
the city. Montmartre was very strongly fortified. 
The southern part of the city on the opposite side of 
the Seine was only covered with a few field-works ; 
time, and the open character of the ground, permit- 
ting no more. But the Soine itself was relied upon 
as a barrier, having proved such in 1814. 

Similar precautions were observed on the fron- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 245 

tiers. Entrenchments were constructed in the five 
principal passes of the Vosgcsian mountains, and all 
the natural passes and strong holds of Lorraine were 
put in the best possible state of defence. Tlie posts 
on the inner line were strengthened with the great- 
est care. The fine militaiy position under the walls 
of Lyons was improved with great expense and la- 
bor. All the towns capable of any defence, were ren- 
dered as strong as posts, palisades, redoubts, and 
fieldworks could make them. The Russian armie», 
though pressing fast forward, were not as yet arrived 
upon the line of operations; and Napoleon doubtless 
trusted that these impediments, in front of the Aus- 
trian line, would arrest any hasty advance on their 
part, since the weJl known tactics of that school 
declared again«t leaving in their rear fortresses or. 
towns possessed by the enemy, however insignifi- 
cant or slightly garrisoned. 

Napoleon, now about to commence his opera- 
tions, summoned round him his best and most expe^ 
ricnccd generals. Soult, late minister of war for 
Louis XVIII., was named major-general. He 
obeyed, he says, not in any respect as an enemy of 
the King, but as a citizen and soldier, whose duty it 
was to obey whomsoever was at the head of the 
government, as that of the vicar of Bray subjected 
him in ghostly submission to each head of the 
church jiro temfiore. Ney was ordered to repair 
to the army at Lisle, " if he wished," so the com- 
mand was expressed, " to witness the first battle," 
Macdonald was strongly solicited to accept a com- 
mand, but declined it with disdain. Davoust, the 

X '^ 



246 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

ttiinister at war undertook to remove his scruples, 
he spoke to him of what his honor required. "It 
is not from you,'* replied the'marshal, *< that I am 
to learn sentiments of honor," and persisted in hi» 
refusal. The cavalry was placed under the com- 
mand of Grouchy, (whom Napoleon had created a 
marshal.) Pajol, Excelmans, Milhaud, andKel- 
lerman, were his seconds in command. The artil- 
lery were three hundred pieces ; the cavalry ap- 
proached to twenty five thousand men ; the guards 
to the same number ; and there is little doubt that 
the whole army amounted in effective force to nearly 
130,000 soldiers, in the most complete -^tate as to 
arms and equipments, who now marched to a war 
■which they themselves had occasioned, under an 
emperor of their own making, and bore in their 
'' hearts and on their tongues the sentiments of death 
or victory. 

Napoleon, having finished his preparations, at 
length announced what had long occupied his secret 
thoughts. **I go,** he said, as he threw himself 
into his carriage to join his army, " I go to measure 
myself with, Wellington.'* But although Napoleon** 
expressions were those of confidence and defiance, 
his interaal feelings were of a different complexion. 
*'I no longer felt,'* as he afterwards expressed 
himself in his exile, *' that complete confidence in 
final success, which accompanied me on former 
imdertakings. Whether it was that I was getting 
beyond the period of life when men are usually fa- 
vored by fortune, or whether the impulse of my 
career seemed impede! in my own eye«, and to my 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE 247 

own imagination, it is certain that I felt a depres- 
sion of spirit. Fortune, which used to follow my 
steps to load me with her bounties, v/as now a se- 
vere deity, from whom I might snatch a few fa- 
vors, but for which she exacted severe retribution. 
I had no sooner gained an advantage than it was 
followed by a reverse." With such feeling, not 
certainly unwarranted by the circumstances under 
which the campaign was undertaken, nor disproved 
by the event, Napoleon undertook hii shortest and 
last campaign. 



24» LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 



CHAPTER XXX, 

Army of Wellington covers Brussels — Napoleon reviews 
Ms grand army on the 14ith June — Napoleon's plan of 
the attack — hatile of Ligny^ and defeat of Blucher on 
the l&th June — action at Quatre Bras on the same day. 

The triple line of strong fortresses possessed by 
the French on the borders of Belgium served Na- 
poleon as a curtain, behind which he could prepare 
his levies and unite his forces at pleasure, without 
any possibility of the allies or their genei'^ls being 
able to observe his motions, or prepare for the at- 
tack which such motions indicated. On the other 
hand, the frontier of Belgium was open to his obser- 
vation, and he knew perfectly the general disposal 
of the allied force. If the French had been prepar- 
ed to make their meditated attack upon Flanders 
in the month of May, they would have found no for- 
midable force to oppose them. But the return of 
Napoleon, which again awakened the war, was an 
event as totally unexpected in France as in Flan- 
ders, and therefore, that nation was as much unpre- 
pared to make an attack as the allies to repel one. 
Thus it happened, that while Napoleon was exert- 
ing himself to collect an army by the means we 
have mentioned, the duke of Wellington, who ar- 
rived at Brussels from Vienna in the beginning of 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. »4P 

April, had leisure to garrison and supply the strong 
places of Ostend, Antwerp, and Nieuport, whicfe 
the French had not dismantled, and to fortify Ypres, 
Tournay, Mons, and Ath. He had also leisure to 
receive his reinforoements from England, and to 
collect the German, Dutch, and Belgian contin- 
gents. 

Thus collected and reinforced the duke of Wel- 
lington's army might contain about thirty thousand 
English troops. They were not, however, those ve- 
teran soldiers who had served undef him during the 
Peninsular war; the flower of which had been des- 
patched upon the American expedition. Most were 
second battalions, which had been lately filled up 
with new recnaits. The foreigners were 15,000 
Hanoverians, with the celebrated german legion, 
8,000 strong, which had so often distinguished it- 
self in Spain ; 5,000 Brunswickers, under their gal- 
lant duke ; and about 17^000 Belgians, Dutch, and 
Nassau troops, commanded by the Prince of O- 
range. 

In the meantime, Napoleon in person advanced to 
Verins on the 12th June, with his Guard, who had 
marched from Paris. The other divisions of his se- 
lected Grand Army had been assembled on the 
frontier, and the whole, consisting of five divisions 
of infantry and four of cavalry, were combined at 
Bourmont on the 14th of the same month, with a de- 
cree of secrecy and expedition which showed the 
usual genius of their commander. Napoleon re- 
viewed the troops in person, reminded them that 
the day of the anniversary of the great victories of 



25a LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Marengo and Friedland, and called on them to re- 
member that the enemies whom they had then de- 
feated, were the same which were now arrayed a- 
gainst them "Are they and we," he asked, "no lon- 
ger the same men!" The address produced the 
strongest effect on the minds of the French soldiery, 
always sensitively alive to military and national 
glory. 

Upon the 15th June, the French army was in 
motion in every direction. Their advanced-guard 
of light troops swept the western bank of the Sam- 
bre clear of all the allied corps of observ^ation. 
They then advanced upon Charleroi, which was 
well defended by the Prussians under general Zie- 
then, who was at length compelled to retire on the 
large village of Gosselies. Here his retreat was 
cut off, and he lost four or five guns, and a consider- 
able number in killed and wounded. 

By this movement the plan of Napoleon was 
made manifest. It was at once most scientific and 
adventurous. His number were unequal to sustain 
a conflict with the armies of Blucher and Welling- 
ton united, but by forcing his way so as to separate 
the one enemy from the other, he v/ould gain the 
advantage of acting against either individually with 
the gross of his forces, while he could spare enough 
of detached troops to keep the other in check. To 
accomplish this masterly manoeuvre, it was neces- 
sary to push onwards upon a part of the British ad- 
vance, which occupied the position of Quatre Bras, 
and the yet more advanced post of Frasnes, where 
some of the Nassau troops were stationed. But the 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 2&1 

extreme rapidity of Napoleon's forced inarches had 
in some measure prevented the execution of his 
plan, by dispersing his forces so much, that at a 
time when every kour was of consequence, he was 
compelled to remain at Charleroi until his wearied 
and over-marched army had collected. 

Nothing of importance took place until the 16th 
of June, when Napoleon commenced the attack, 
about three o'clock in the afternoon, with uncom- 
mon fury all along the Prussian line. After a con- 
tinued attack of two hours, the French had only ob- 
tained possession of part of the village of Saint Ar- 
mand. The position of the Pnissians, however, was 
thus far defective, that the main part of their army 
being drawn up on the heights, and the remainder 
occupying villages which lay at their foot, the rein- 
forcements, despatched to the latter were necessa- 
rily exposed during their descent to the fire from 
the French artillery, placed on the meadows below. 
After a desperate resistance, the French at length 
obtained possession of Ligny. The French guards, 
supported by their heavy cavalry, ascended the 
heights, and attacked the Prussian position in the 
rear of Ligny. The reserves of the Prussian in- 
fantry having been despatched to St. Armand, Blu- 
cher had no means of repelling this attack, save by 
his cavalry. He placed himself at their head, and 
charged in the most desperate manner, but without 
success. The cavalry of Blucher were forced back 
in disorder. 

The Prince Marshal, as he directed the re- 
treat, was involved in one of the charges of cavalry. 



SM LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

Ms horse struck down by a cannon-shot, and he 
himself prostrated on the gi'ound. His aid-de-camp 
threw himself beside the veteran, determined to 
share his fate, and he had the precaution to fling a 
cloak over him to prevent his being recognised by 
the French. The enemy's cuirassiers passed over 
him, and it was not until they were repulsed, and in 
their turn pursued by thePinissian cavalry, that the 
gallant veteran was raised and remounted. 

Such was the battle of Ligny. But the victory 
was attended with none of those decisive consequen- 
ces which were wont to mark the successes of Buo- 
naparte, There wei'e no corps cut off or dispersed, 
no regiments which fled or flung down their arms, 
no line of defence forced, no permanent advantage 
gained. The Prussians are believed to have lost in 
this bloody action at least 10,000. Napoleon by 
tliis victory had struck a great blow — overpowered 
a stubborn and inveterate enemy, and opened the 
campaign with favorable auspices. The degree of 
advantage, however, which Napoleon might have 
derived from the Prussian retreat, was greatly limit- 
ed by the indifferent success of Ney against the 
forces of Lord Wellington. Of this second action 
we have now to give some account. 

On the moniing of the 16th, the British were in 
possession of Quatre Bras. About three o'clock in 
the afternoon the main attack commenced. The 
Britisli infantry, and particularly the 42d Highlan- 
ders, suffered severely from an unexpected charge of 
lancers, whose approach was hid from them by the 
character of the ground, intersected with hedges. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 258 

and covered with heavy crops of rye. Two com- 
panies of the Highlanders were cut off not having 
time to form the square ; the other succeeded in 
getting into order and beating off the lancers. Ney 
then attempted a general charge of heavy cavalry. 
But they were received with such a galling fire 
from the infantry, joined to a battery of two guns, 
that it could not be sustained. As the English re- 
inforcements arrived in succession, marshal Ney 
became desirous of an addition of numbers, and 
sent to procure the assistance of d'Erlon's division 
near Marchiennes. But these troops had been 
previously ordered to succour Buonaparte's own 
army. As the affair of Ligny was, however over 
before they arrived, the division was again sent 
back towards Ney, but his battle was also by this 
time over. The battle ofQuatre Bras terminated 
with the light. The British retained possession of 
the field, which they had maintained with so much 
obstinacy, because the Duke of Wellington conceiv- 
ed that Blucher would be able to make his ground 
good at Ligny, and was consequently desirous that 
the armies should retain the line of communication 
which they had occupied in the morning. But the 
Prussians, evacuating all the villages which they 
held in the neighbourhood of Ligny, had concen- 
trated their forces and retreated upr,n the river 
Dyle, in the vicinity of Wavre. Blucher had effect- 
ed this retreat, not only without pursuit by the 
French, but without their knowing for some time 
in what direction he had gone. This doubt respect- 
ing Blucher's movements occasioned an uncertain- 

X 



2W LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

ty and delay in those of the French, which was 
afterwards attended with the very worst conse- 
quences. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

The English army on the 17th June, take up their 
ground on Waterloo, and the French next morn- 
ing — strength of the two armies— plana of their gene- 
rals-^BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 

About 3 o'clock on the afternoon of the irth 
June, (1815,) the British came on the memorable 
field of Waterloo, and took up their bivouac for the 
night in the order in which they were to fight the 
next day. It was much later before Napoleon 
reached the heights of La Belle Alliance in person, 
and his army did not come up in full force till the 
morning of the 18th. The French force on the 
field consisted probably of about 75,000 men. The 
English army did not exceed that number, at the 
highest computation. Each army was commanded 
by the chief, under whom they had offered to defy 
the world. So far the forces were equal. But 
the French had the very great advantage of being 
trained and experienced soldiers of the same nation, 
whereas the English in the Duke of Wellington's 
army, did not exceed 35,000. 

The night of the 17h was dreadful, and seemed 
to presage the calamities of the day. The violent 
and incessant rain did not allow a moment's rest to 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 266 

Napoleon's army. The bad state of the roads hin- 
dered the arrival of provisions, and th6 most of the 
soldiers were without food. The emperor thought 
that Lord Wellington, separated from the Prus- 
sians, would not venture to maintain his position in 
the forest, and next morning, was surprised that 
the English had not quitted their positions, but on 
the contrary, were disposed to accept battle. He 
made several generals reconnoitre the English, and 
from one of them learned, that they were defended 
" by an army of cannons, and mountain! of infantry.** 

The plans of these two great generals were ex- 
tremely simple. The object of the duke of Welling- 
ton was to maintain his line of defence, until the 
Prussians coming up, should give him a decided 
superiority of force, 

Napoleon*s scheme was equally plain and decid- 
ed. He trusted, by his usual rapidity of attack, 
to break and destroy the British army before the 
Prussians should arrive on the field. 

The tempest, which raged with tropical violence 
all night, abated in the morning ; but the weather 
continued gusty and stormy during the whole day. 
Betwixt eleven and twelve, before noon, on the 
memorable 18th June, this dreadful and decisive ac- 
tion commenced, with a cannonade on the part of the 
French instantly followed by an attack, command- 
ed by Jerome, on the advanced post of Hoogomont. 
The troops of Nassau, which occupied the 
wtKxl around the chateau, were driven out by 
the efforts of the Fi-ench, but the utmost eSofkm 
of the French were unable to force the titiU9e« gar- 



256 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

den. and farm-offices, which a party of the guards 
sustained with the most dauntless resolution. The 
French redoubled their efforts, and precipitated 
themselves in numbers on the exterior hedge, 
which screens the garden wall, not perhaps aware 
of the internal defence afforded by the latter. They 
fell in great numbers on this point by the fire of the 
defenders, to which they were exposed in every di- 
rection. The number of their troops, however, 
enabled them by possession of the wood to ma;^k 
Hougomont for a time, and to push on with their 
cavalry and artillery against the British right, 
which formed in squares to receive them. The 
fire was incessant, but without apparent advantage 
on either side. 

Meantime, the fire of the artillery having be- 
come general along the line, the force of the French 
attack was transferred to the British centre. It 
was made with the most desperate fury, and re- 
ceived with the most stubborn resolution. The 
cuirassiers came with the utmost intrepidity along 
the Gennape causeway, where they were encoun- 
tered and charged by the English heavy cavalry ; 
and a combat was maintained at the sword's point, 
till the French were driven back on their own po- 
sition, where they were protected by their artille- 
ry. The four columns of French infantry engaged 
in the same attack, forced their way beyond the 
farm of La Haye Sainte, and, dispersing a Belgian 
"regiment, were in the act of establishing themselves 
in the centre of the British position, when they 
were attacked by the brigade of general Pach, 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 25t 

brought up from the second line by general Piclon, 
while at the same time, a brigade of British heavy 
cavalry wheeled round their own infantrj', and at- 
tacked the French charging columns in flank, at 
the moment when they were checked by the fire of 
the musketry. Tlie results were decisive. The 
French columns were broken with great slaughter, 
and two eagles, with more than 2000 men, were 
made prisoners. The latter were sent instantly off 
for Brussels. 

The British cavalry, however, followed their suc- 
cess too far. They got involved amongst the 
French infantry and some hostile cavaliy which 
were detached to support them, and were obliged 
to retire with considerable loss. In this part of the 
action, the gallant general Picton met with his 
death, as did general Ponsonby, who commanded 
the cavalry. 

Shortly after this period, the French cavalry 
made a general attack chiefly towards the centre of 
the British right. They came up with the most 
dauntless resolution, in despite of the continued fire 
of thirty pieces of artillery placed in front of the 
line, and compelled the artillery-men, by whom 
they were served, to retreat within the squares. 
At every favorable moment the British artillery- 
men sallied from their place of refuge, again man- 
ned their pieces, and fired on the assailants. The 
cuirassiers, however, continued their dreadful on- 
set, and rode up to the squares in the full confi- 
dence, apparently, of sweeping them before the 
impetuosity of their charge. Their onset and re- 

X2 



sit LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OP 

c«ptk)« was like a furious ocean'pouring itself against 
a chain of insulated rocks. The British squares 
stood unmoved, and never gave fire until the caval- 
ry were within ten yards, when men rolled one 
way, horses galloped another, and the cuirassiers 
were in every instance driven back. 

This was not, however, the fault of the cuiras- 
•iers, who displayed an almost frantic valor. They 
ralired again and again, and returned to the onset, 
till the British could recognize even the faces of in- 
dividuals. Some rode close up to the bayonets, 
fired their pistols, and cut with their swords with 
reckless and useless valor. Some stood at the gaze, 
and were destroyed by the musketry and artillery. 
Some squadrons, passing through the intervals of 
the first line, charged the squares of Belgians p>ost- 
ed there, with as little success. At length the cui- 
rassiers suffered so severely on eveiy hand, that 
they were compelled to abandon the attempt which 
they had made with such intrepid and desperate 
courage. In this unheard of struggle, the greater 
part of the French heavy cavalry were absolutely 
destroyed. 

In the destruction of this noble body of cuiras- 
siers, Buonaparte lost the corps which might have 
been most effectual in covering his retreat. After 
the broken remains of this fine cavalry were drawn 
off, the French confined themselves for a time to a 
heavy cannonade, from which' the British sheltered 
themselves in part by lying down on the ground. 

It was now about six o'clock, and during this long 
»uc€e*jsion of the most furious attacks, the French 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. i6» 

had gained very little success. The British had 
suffered very severely, but had lost very little 
ground. Ten thousand men were, however, killed 
and wounded ; some of the foreign regiments had 
given way, though others had shown the most des- 
perate valor. And the ranks were thined, both by 
the actual fugitives, and by the absence of individu- 
als, who left the bloody field for the purpose of car- 
rying off the wounded, and some of whom might 
naturally be in no hurry to return to so fatal a 
scene. 

At half-past six the long and anxiously expected 
Prussian army began to enter into communication 
with the British left. It now became evident that 
the Prussians were to enter seriously into the bat- 
tle, and with great force. Napoleon had still the 
means of opposing them, and of achieving a retreat, 
at the certainty, however, of being attacked upon 
the ensuing day by the combined armies of great 
Britain and Prussia, 

About seven o'clock Napoleon's celebrated guard, 
which had not yet taken any part in the conflict, 
were formed in two columns, under his own eye, 
near the bottom of the declivity of La Belle Alliance. 
They were put under command of the dauntless 
Ney. Buonaparte told the soldiers that the Prus- 
sians whom they saw on the right were retreating 
before Grouchy. The guard answered for the last 
time, with shouts cfvive l^Enifiereury and moved 
resolutely forward, having for their support battal- 
ions of the old guard in reserve, who stood prepar- 
ed to protect the advance of their comrades. A 



260 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

gradual change had taken place in the English line 
of battle, the right, which, at the beginning of the 
conflict, presented a segment of a convex circle, 
now resembled one that was concave, the extreme 
right, which had been thrown back, being now 
rather brought forward, so that their fire both of 
artillery and infantry fell upon the flank of the 
French who had also to sustain that which was 
poured on their front from the heights. The Brit- 
ish were ari'anged in a line four men deep, to meet 
the advancing columns of the French guard, and 
poured upon them a stoim of musketry which never 
ceased an instant. The soldiers fired independent- 
ly as it is called ; each man loading and discharging 
his piece as fast as he could. At length the British 
moved forward, as if to close around the heads of 
the columns, and at the same time continued to 
pour their shot upon the enemy's flanks. The 
French gallantly attempted to deploy, for the 
purpose of returning the charge. But in their ef- 
fort to do so, met so dreadful a fire, they stopt, 
staggered, became disordered, v/ere blended into 
one mass, and at length gave way, retiring, or rath- 
er flying, in the utmost confusion. This was their 
last effort, and Napoleon gave orders for the re- 
treat ; to protect which, he had now no troops left, 
save the last four battalions of the old guard, which 
had been stationed in the rear of the attacking co- 
lumns. These threw themselves into squares, and 
stood fii*m. But at this moment the duke of Wel- 
lington commanded the whole British line to ad- 
vance, so that whatever the skill and bravery of 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTF. 261 

these gallant veterans, they also were thrown into 
disorder, in spite of the efforts of Ney, who, hav- 
ing his horse killed, fought sword in hand, and on 
foot, in the front of the battle, till the very last The 
victorious generals met at the farm house of La Belle 
Alliance, it was agreed that the Prussians, who were 
fresh in comparison should follow up the chase, a du- 
ty for which the British, exhausted by the fatigues 
of a battle of eight hours, were totally inadequate. 
During the whole action. Napoleon maintained 
the utmost serenity. He remained on the heights 
of I^a Belle Alliance, keeping pretty near the cen- 
tre, from which he had a full view of the field, 
which does not exceed a mile and a half in length. 
He expressed no solicitude on the fate of the battle 
for a long time, noticed the behaviour of particular 
regiments, and praised the English several times, al- 
ways, however, talking of them as an assured prey. 
When forming his guard for the lust fatal effort, 
he descended near them, half down the causeway 
from La Belle Alliance, to bestow on them what 
proved his parting exhortation. He watched in- 
tently their progress with a spy-glass, and on see- 
ing the attacking columns stagger and become con- 
fused, his countenance became pale as that of a 
corpse, and muttering to himself, **they are min- 
gled together," he said to his attendants, "all is 
lost for the present," and rode off the field ; not 
stopping or taking re-freshment till he reached 
Charleroi, wheiT he paused for a moment in a mea- 
dow, and occupied a tent which had been pitched 
fur his accommodation. 



9i» UFB AtiD CAMPAIGNS OF 

Meantime the pursnil of his discomflttcd armjr 
was followed up by Bluchcr, with the most deter- 
mined perseverance. He accelerated the march 
of the Pi-ussian advanced guard, and despatched 
every man and horse of his cavalry upon the pur- 
suit of the French. Their disorder was so irreme- 
diable, and their moral courage was so absolutely 
quelled for the moment, that in many cases they 
were slaughtered like sheep. One hundred and fifty 
guns were left in th« hands of the English, and a 
like number taken by the Prussians in the course of 
the pursuit. The latter obtained possession also of 
all Napoleon's baggage, and of his carriage, where, 
amongst many articles of curiosity, was found a pro- 
clamation intended to be made public the next day. 

The loss on the British side during this dreadful 
battle was immense. One hundred officers slain, 
five hundred wounded, fifteen thousand men killed 
and wounded threw half of Britain into mourn- 
ing. It required all the glory, and all the solid ad- 
vantages, of this immortal day, to reconcile the 
mind to the high price at which it was purchased. 
It would be difficult to form a guess at the extent of 
the French loss. We do not believe, that of 75,000 
men, the half were ever again collected under arms. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTR. i6t 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

Buonaparte's arrival at Paris — He agrees to abdicate — 
declaration to the French people, proclaiming NapoU' 
on II. emperor of the French — Buonaparte arrives at 
Rochefort — arrives at Plymmtth — his protest against 
the violation of his liberty — goes on hoard the Northum- 
berland. 

Immense as the direct and immediate consequen- 
ces of the battle of Waterloo certainly were, b«ng 
the total loss of the campaign, and the entire de- 
struction of Napoleon's fine army, the more remote 
contingencies to which it gave rise were so much 
more important, that it may be doubted whether 
there was ever in the civilized world a great battle 
followed by so many and such extraordinary results. 

That part of the French army which escaped 
from the battle of Waterloo fled in disorder towards 
the frontiers of France. The two chambers of 
France hastily assembled. La Fayette addressed 
that of the representatives in the character of an 
old friend of liberty, spoke of the sinister reports 
that were spread abroad, and invited the members 
to rally under the tri-colored banner of liberty, 
equality, and public order, by adopting five resolu- 
tions. The first declared that the independence of 
the nation was menaced. The second declared the 
sittings of the chambers permanent, and denounced 
the pains of treason against whomsoever should at- 



a«4 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

tempt to dissolve them. The third announced that 
the troops had deserved well of their country. The 
fourth called out the national guard. The fifth 
invited the ministers to repair to the assembly. 

When Buonaparte returned to Paris, his first in' 
terview was with Carnot, of whom he demanded an 
instant supply of treasure, and a levy of 300,000 
men. The minister replied, that he could have 
neither the one nor the other. 

On the morning of the 22d June, the chamber of 
representatives met at nine in the morning, and ex- 
pressed the utmost impatience to receive the act of 
abdication. The emperor at length consented, and 
wrote in the following words: 

*' Frenchmen! — In commencing war for main- 
taining the national independence, I relied on the 
union of all efforts, of all wills, and the concurrence 
of all the national authorities. I had reason to 
hope for success, and I braved all the declarations 
of the powers against me. 

"Circumstances appear to me changed. I offer 
myself as a sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies 
of France. May they prove sincere in their decla- 
rations, and have really directed them only against 
my power! My political life is terminated, and I 
proclaim my son under the title Napoleon II., em- 
peror of the French. 

"The present ministers will provisionally form 
the council of the government. The interest which 
I take in my son induces me to invite the chambers 
to form without delay the regency by a law. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 265 

'* Unite all for the public safety, in order %o re- 
main an independent nation. 

(Signed) "NAPOLEON." 

Palace of the Elifsium, ") 

June*he22d,\S15.''S 

Whilst the chamber of deputies continued to dis- 
cuss a number of questions, without coming to any- 
specific conclusions, fouche began to be uneasy at 
Napoleon's residence being so near them in the 
Elyseum. On the 25th at noon. Napoleon set off 
for Malmaison, where he was received by the prin- 
cess Hortensia, On the 29th he left Malmaison, 
and arrived at Rochefort on the Sd of July. 

On the 2d of July, a council having been called 
to decide peremptorily upon the defence or surren- 
der of Paris, it was agreed, unanimously to deliver 
it into the hands of the allies. The following note 
was sent to the council by the allies: "The three 
powers considered it as an essential condition of 
peace and real tranquility, that Napoleon Buona- 
parte shall be incapable of disturbing the repose of 
France and of Europe for the future ; and in conse- 
quence of the events that occured in the month of 
May last, the powers must insist that Napoleon 
Buonaparte be placed in their custody. *' 

The news of the defeat at Waterloo had been the 

signal to the admiralty to cover tlie western coast 

©f France with cruisers, in order to prevent the 

possibility of Napoleons' escaping by sea from any of 

the ports in that direction. No less than tliirty ships 

of different descriptions maintained this blockade. 

The British line-ofi-battle ship, the Bellerophon, 

cruised off Rochefort, 

Y 



986 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

On the 14th of July, general Baron Gourgaud was 
sent on board that ship, with a letter addressed tor 
the Prince Regent, as follows : 

'' Rochefort, July 13th, 1815. 
"Your Royal Highness, 

" A victim to the factions which distract my 
country, and to the enmity of the greatest powers^ 
of Europe, I have terminated my political career^ 
and I come like Themistocles, to throw myself on 
the hospitality of the British people. I put myself 
under the protection of your laws ; which I clairat 
from your royal highness, as the most powerful, 
the most constant, and the most generous of my 
enemies. • ** NAPOLEON," 

On the 15th July, Napoleon finally left France in 
the brig I'Epervier, and was received on board the 
Bellerophon with the honors due to his rank. On 
the 16th the Bellerophon set sail for England. Dur- 
ing the whole passage Buonaparte seemed tranquil, 
and in good humor. On the 23d they passed Us- 
baut. On the 26th the vessel received orders to 
move round to Plymouth sound. 

When arrived at Plymouth, he was not permil-- 
ted to land, but was soon informed that the allied 
powers had decided that he should be treated as a. 
prisoHer of war and be confined at St. Helena. On 
the 26th Napoleon sailed to Plymouth, preparatory 
to his embarkation on board the Northumberland, 
commanded by admiral Cockburn, destined to sail 
to St Helena, from which vessel he despatched the 
following protest to lord Heith : 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 267 

•* I solemnly protest, in the face of Heaven and of 
all men, against the violation of every sacred right 
towards me. I voluntarily delivered myself up to 
the Bellerophon : I am therefore no prisoner, but 
the guest of England. 

*' If this order is to be put into effect, in vain will 
the English, henceforth, proclaim their integrity, 
their laws, and their liberty to Europe. 

** I appeal, therefope to history, which will re- 
cord that an enemy, who, for twenty years, made 
war upon the British nation, came freely, in his 
misfortune, to demand an asylum under the safe 
guard of their laws. What proof more striking 
could be given of his esteem and confidence ? But 
in what manner have the English replied ? — They 
tendered the hand of hospitality to that enemy ; 
and, when he delivered up himself they sacrificed 
him!!! 
**0n board the Bellcrofihon^ (sig:ned") 

at sea, Ath August, 1815. 3 " NAPOLEON," 

On the 4th of August, the Bellerophon, sailed 
from Torbay, to meet the Northumberland off 
Berry-head. 

About 7 o'clock on the morning of the 7th August 
lord Heith came in his barge to transfer Napoleon 
from the Bellerophon to the Northumberland. A- 
bout 1 o'clock, when Buonaparte had announced that 
he was in full readiness, a captain's guard was 
turned out ; lord Heith's barge was prepared ; and 
as Napoleon crossed the quarter-deck, the soldiers 
presented arms, under three ruffles of the drum, 
being the salute paid to a general officer. His step 



268 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

was firm and steady ; his farewell to captain Mait- 
land polite and friendly. 

Napoleon was received on board the Northumb- 
erland with the same honors paid at leaving the 
Bellerophon. Sir George Cockburn, the British 
admiral to whose charge the late emperor was now 
committed, was in every respect a person highly 
qualified to discharge the task with delicacy to- 
wards Napoleon, yet with fidelity to the instruc- 
tions he had received. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ia§ 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Napoleon's behaviour on the voyage — his arrivaJ— de- 
scription of Buonaparte's residence at Longwood—- Na- 
poleon's domestic habits — manner in ichich he spent the 
day — removal of Las Cases from his household — Buo- 
naparte's constitution — symptoms ef his illness in- 
crease — his refusal to take exercise or medicines — re- 
moval of Dr. O'Meara. 

There remained with Buonaparte, count Bert- 
rand, his wife, and three children ; the count and 
countess Montholon, count Las Cases, and general 
Gordaud, with nine men and three woman servants. 
The remainder of his suite were put on board the 
Eurotes frigate. 

Whilst Napoleon was on board the Northumber- 
land, it was observed, he stamped the usual im- 
pression on every one there, as elsewhere, of his 
being an extraordinary man. Nothing escaped his 
notice ; his eyes were in every place, and on every 
object, from the greatest to the most minute. He 
spent his mornings in writing or reading ; his even- 
ings in his exercise upon deck, and at cards. The 
game was generally vingt un. But when the play 
was rather deep, he discouraged that amusement, 
and substituted chess. Great tactician as he was. 
Napoleon did net play well at that military game, 
and it was with difficultv that his antagonist, Mon- 

Y 2 



afO UFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

tho4on» could avoid the solecism of beating the 
emperor. 

About seventy days after the Northumberland's 
departure from England, she reached St. Helena, 
vrhich presents but an unpromising aspect to those 
who design it for a residence, though it may be a 
welcome sight to the sea-worn mariner. Its des- 
tined inhabitant, from the deck of the "Northumb- 
erland, surveyed it with his spy-glass. Las Cases, 
who stood by him, could not perceive the slightest 
alteration of his countenance. 

The 16th of October 1815, terminated the voyage 
to St. Helena. After dining on board the North- 
umberland, the emperor accompanied by the grand 
marshal, Bertrand, got into a boat to go on shore. 

Thus, in the course of a few weeks, the emperor 
of the west, the dispenser of crowns, and sceptres, 
found himself immured for life in a small volcanic 
island, measuring ten miles in length and seven in 
breadth, at a distance of six thousand miles from 
the scenes of his immortal exploits in arms, and 
separated from the two great continents of Africa 
and America by unfathomable seas. 

A few minutes after his arrival, he went up stairs 
to his chamber, where his followers were called to 
attend him, his situation here was no better than it 
had been on board the vessel. They found them- 
selves lodged in a sort of inn or hotel. 

At six in the morning, the day after, the empe- 
ror, the grand marshal, and the admiral, rode to 
visit Longwood, the house chosen for Napoleon's 
residence. A small pavillion or summer-house at- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^1 

tachcd to the place pleased him, and admiral Cock- 
bum thought he would be more agreeably situated 
there than in the town. The pavillion which Na- 
poleon had chosen, was about 30 or 40 paces from 
Mr. Balcombe's dwelling house, called the Briars. 
In no situation of his past life had the emperor been 
so wretchedly lodged. The windows had neither 
glasses nor shutters, and there was scarcely a seat 
in the room. Las Cases's bed-room, above his, 
was about 7 feet square ; there was in it only a bed 
and a single chair. Such was the situation of the 
emperor the first night he spent at the Briars. 

At first, Napoleon's dinner was sent him, ready 
cooked, from James town, about a mile and a half 
distant ; but afterwards Mr. Balcombe found means 
to get a kitchen fixed up for his house. 

He frequently watched, for hours, in the shady 
paths and shnibbies of the Briars, where care was 
taken to prevent his being intruded upon. During 
one of the walks, he stopped, and pointed out to an 
englishman the frightful precipices which environ- 
ed them, and said, "behold your country's gene- 
rosity ! this is their liberality to the unfortunate man, 
who, blindly relying en what he so falsely imagined 
to be their national character, in an evil hour, un- 
suspectingly confided himself to them." 

On the 9th December, Napoleon and part of his 
household ; the count and countess of Montholon 
and their children ; the count Las Cases and his 
son, general Gourgaud, doctor O'Meara, who had 
been received as his medical attendant, removed to 
Longwood. Notwithstanding that every effort was 



271 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

made to render Longwood-house as commodious 
as time and means would permit, yet his situation 
was far from being a pleasant one. His bed-room 
was about fourteen feet by twelve and ten or eleven 
feet in height. The walls were lined with brown 
nankeen, bordered and edged with common green 
bordering paper, and destitute of surbase. Two 
small windows without pulleys, were fastened by a 
piece of notched wood. There were window-cur- 
tains of white long-cloth, a small fire-place, a shab- 
by grate, and fire-irons to match, with a paltry 
mantel-piece of wood, painted white, upon which 
stood a small marble bust of his son. Above the 
mantel-piece hung the portrait of Maria Louisa, 
and four or five of young Napoleon, one of which 
was embroidered by the hands of his mother. A 
little more to the right hung also a miniature pic- 
ture of the empress Josepiiine ; and to the left was 
suspended the alarm chamber- watch of Frederick 
the great. The floor was covered with a second- 
hand carpet. In the right band corner was placed 
the little, plain, iron-camp bedstead, upon which 
its master liad reposed on the fields of Marengo 
and Austerlitz. Four or five cane-bottomed chairs 
painted green, were standing here and there about 
the room. An old-fashioned sofa, covered with 
large white cloth, upon which Napoleon reclined, 
clothed in his white mornir.g-gown, white loose 
trowsers and stockings all in one ; a chequered 
madras upon his head, and his shirt collar open, 
without a cravat. His air was melancholy and 
troubled. Of all the former magnificence ol tlic 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 273 

once mighty emperor of France, nothing was pre- 
sent except a superb washing stand, containing a 
silver basin, and a water jug of the same metal, in 
the left-hand corner. 

Around Longwood lay the largest extent of open 
ground in the neighbourhood, fit for exercise either 
upon horseback or on foot. A space of twelve 
miles in circumference was traced ofF, within which 
Napoleon might take exercise without being at- 
tended by any one. A chain of sentinels surround- 
ed this domain to prevent his passing, unless ac- 
companied by a British officer. If he inclined to 
extend his excursions, he might go to any part of 
the island, providing the officer was in attendance, 
and near enough to observe his motions. Such an 
orderly officer was always in readiness to attend 
him when required. 

The old poet has said that "every island is a 
prison," but, in point of difficulty of escape, there 
is none which can compare with St. Helena. ** A 
subaltern's guard" says Dr. O'Meara, " was post- 
ed at the entrance of Longwood, about six hundred 
paces from the house, and a cordon of sentinels and 
picquets was placed round the limits. At 9 o'clock 
the sentinels were drawn in and stationed in com- 
munication with each other, surrounding the house 
in such positions, that no person could come in, nor 
go out, without being scrutinised by them. At the 
entrance of the house double sentinels were placed, 
and patrols were continually passing backward and 
forward. After nine. Napoleon was not at liberty 
to leave the house, unless in company with a field- 



m LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

officer, and no j>erson whatever was allowed to pass 
without the countersign. This state of affairs con- 
tinued until day-light in the moiTiing. Every land- 
ing-place in the island, and, indeed, every place 
which presented the semblance of one, was furnish- 
ed with a picquet, and sentinels were even placed 
upon every great path leading to the sea. Another 
regulation was that Buonaparte should be visible, 
at least once every day, to an orderly Biitish officer. 

The instructions, which the new governor sir 
Hudson Lowe received from the British government 
on the subject of the custody of the ex-emperor, 
were as follows: 

^* Doiuning- street, 12(/i Septembery 1816. 

" You will observe that the desire of his Majesty's 
government is to allow every indulgence to general 
Buonaparte which may be compatible with the en- 
tire security of his person. That he should not by 
any means escape, or hold communication with any 
person whatever, excepting through your agency, 
must be your unremitted care ; and those points 
being made sui'e, every recourse and amusement, 
which may serve to reconcile Buonaparte to his 
confinement, may be permitted.'* 

Napoleon's life, until his health began to give 
way, was of the most regular and monotonous char- 
acter. Having become a very indifferent sleeper, 
perhaps from custom of assigning during the active 
part of his life no precise time for repose, his hours 
for retiring were uncertain, depending upon the 
quantum of rest which he had enjoyed during tlie 
earlier part of the night. It followed froni this ir- 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 5TS 

rcc^ilarity, that during the day time he occasionally 
fell asleep, for a few minutes, upon his couch or 
•nrm chair. At times his favorite valet-de-chambre, 
Marchand, read to him while in bed until he was 
composed to rest, the best remedy perhaps, for that 
course of "thick-coming fancies," which must so 
f>ft have disturbed the repose of one in circumstan- 
ces, so singular and so melancholy. So soon as Na- 
poleon arose from bed, he either began to dictate to 
one of his generals, and placed upon record such 
passages of his remarkable life as he desired to 
preserve; or, if the weather and his inclinations 
suited, he went out for an h^^ur or two on horse- 
back. The fore part of the day he usually devoted 
to reading, or dictating to one or the other of his 
suite, and about two or three o'clock received such 
visitors as had permission to wait upon him. An 
airing in the carriage or on horseback usually suc- 
ceeded this species of levee, on which occasions he 
^vas attended by all his suite. On returning from 
his airings, he again resumed his book, or caused 
his amanuensis take up the pen until dinner time, 
which was about eight o'clock at night. He pre- 
frrred plain food, and eat plentifully, and with 
an apparent appetite. A very few glasses of 
claret, scarce amounting to a pint English in all, 
and chiefly drank during dinner, completed his 
meal. He never took more than two meals a day, 
and concluded each with a small cup of coffee. 
After dinner, chess, cards, reading aloud for the 
benefit of his suite, or general conversation, served 
to consume the evening till ten or eleven, about 



276 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

which time he retired to his apartment, and went 
immediately to bed. 

In November 1816, Napoleon sustained a loss to 
which he must have been not a little sensible, in 
the removal of count Las Gases from his society. 
Coimt Las Cases had been tempted into a line of 
conduct inconsistent with the engagement he had 
come under with the other attendants of the ex- 
emperor, not to hold secret communication beyond 
the verge of the island. The opportunity of a 
servant of his own returning to England, induced 
him to confide to the domestic's charge a letter, 
written upon a piece of white silk, that it might be 
the more readily concealed, which was stitched in- 
to the lad's clothes. It was addressed to prince 
Lucien Buonaparte. As this was a direct transgres- 
sion, in a most material point, of the conditions 
which Las Cases had promised to observe, he was 
dismissed from the island and sent to the cape of 
Good Hope, and from thence to Europe. Unques- 
tionably, the separation from the devoted follower 
added greatly to the disconsolate situation of the 
exile of Longwood. The bearer of the letter, it is 
supposed, confided the affi:iir to his mother, who 
could not conceal it from, her husband, by which 
publicity it came to the ears of sir Hudson Lowe, 
who issued his orders accordingly. 

In the autumn of 1817, Buonaparte had a smart 
attack of fever, 8cc., and was seVeral days obliged 
to retire occasionally to his bed. 

With regard to his health, LasCases says— *'Con- 
trary to the common opiriitin, in wliich I myself 



NAPOtEON BUONAPARTE. 277 

once participated, the emperor is far from possess- 
ing a strong constitution. His body is subject to the 
slightest accidents. The smell of paint is sufficient 
to make him ill ; certain dishes, or the slightest de- 
gree of damp, immediately take a very severe effect 
upon him. His body is far from being a body of iron 
as was supposed ; his strength is all in his mind.'* 

About the 25th of September 1818, Napoleon's 
health seems to have been seriously affected. He 
complained much of nausea, his legs swelled, and 
there were other unfavorable symptoms, which in- 
duced his physician to tell him, that he was of a 
temperament which required much activity ; that 
constant exertion of mind and body was indispensi- 
ble ; and that without exercise he must soon lose 
his health. He immediately declared, that wliile 
exposed to the challenge of sentinels, he never 
would take exercise, however necessary. Dr. O'- 
Meara replied, that, if the disease should not be 
encountered by remedies in due time, it would ter- 
minate fatally, his reply was remarkable. ** I will 
have at least the consolation that my death will be 
an eternal dishonor to the English nation, who sent 
me to this climate to die under the hands of ****. " 
The physician again represented, that by neglect- 
ing to take medicine, he would accelerate his own 
death. "That which is written is written," said 
Napoleon, looking up "our days are reckoned." 

The next important incident, in the monotony of 
Napoleon's life, was the removal of Dr. O'Meara. 
It seems that Dr. O'Meara growing perhaps too 
intimate with the prisoner, became unwillijig to 



J78 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

supply the governor with information respecting 
Napoleon, a quarrel took place between him and 
sir Hudson Lowe, 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Two roman catholic priests sent to St. Helena at his de- 
sire — I>r. Antomarchi arrives to supply the place of 
O'Meara — Napoleon's disease increases — Napoleon con- 
senis to admit the visits of Dr. Amott — extreme une- 
Hon administered to Napoleon — HIS DEATH — ana- 
tomisation of the body — his interment. 

About this time Napoleon signified a desire to 
have the company of a catholic priest. According- 
ly his holiness despatched two to St. Helena instead 
of one. The missionaries were received at St. 
Helena with civility, and the rites of mass were oc- 
casionally performed at Longwood. 

The same vessel which arrived at St. Helena on 
the 18th September, in 1818, with these physicians 
brought with them Dr. Antomarchi, anatomic pro- 
sector to the hospital of St. Marie Neuve, at Flo- 
rence, attached to the university of Pisa, who was 
designed to supply the place about the exile's per- 
son, occupied by Dr. O'Meara, and after him pro- 
visionally by Dr. Stokoe. He continued to hold 
the office till Napoleon's death, and his account of 
his last moments is useful and entertaining, as re- 
lating to the last days of so extraordinary a person. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. J79 

At times he lamented his decay of energy. The 
bed, he said, was now a place of luxury, which he 
would not exchange for all the thrones in the uni- 
verse. The eyes which formerly were so vigilant, 
could now scarcely b^ opened. He recollected 
that he used to dictate to four or five secretaries at 
once. " But then, " said he ** I was Napoleon — now 
I am no longer any thing — my strength, my facul- 
ties, iorsake me — I no longer live, I only exist." 
Often he remained silent for many hours, suffering 
as may be supposed, much pain, and immured in 
profound melancholy. 

About the 22d January 1821, Napoleon appeared 
to resume some energy, and to conquer his disease 
by exercise. He mounted his horse, and galloped 
for the last time, five or six miles around the limits 
of Long wood, but nature was overcome by the ef- 
fort. He complained that his strength was sinking 
under him rapidly. 

Towards the end of February the disease assum- 
ed a character still more formidable, and Dr. An- 
tomarchi became desirous of obtaining a consulta- 
tion with some of the English medical men. The ex- 
emperor, at length, consented that Dr. Antomarchi 
should consult with Dr. Arnott, surgeon of the 20th 
regiment. But the united opinion of the medical 
gentlemen could not overcome the aversion of Na- 
poleon to medicine, or shake the belief which he 
reposed in the gloomy doctrines of fatalism. ** All 
that is to happen is written down." 

Dr. Arnott saw him the first time on the 1st April 
1821, and continued his visits regularly. Napoleon 



990 UFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

expressed his opinion that his liver was aflfect- 
ed. Dr. Amott*s observations led him to think 
though the action of the liver might be imperfect, 
the seat of the disease was to be looked for else- 
where. 

From the 15th to the 25th of April, Napoleon 
was engaged from time to time in making his testa- 
mentary bequests. 

As the strength of the patient gradually sunk, the 
symptoms of his disease became less equivocal, un- 
til, on the 27th of April, the ejection of a dark-co- 
loured fluid gave farther insight into the nature of 
the malady. Upon the 28th of April, Napoleon 
gave instructions to Antomarchi, that after his 
death his body should be opened, but that no Eng- 
lish medical man should touch him unless assistance 
b«ing absolutely necessary, in which case he gave 
Antomarchi leave to call that of Dr. Amott. He 
directed that his heart should be conveyed to Par- 
ma, to Maria Louisa ; and requested anxiously that 
his stomach should be particularly examined, and 
the report transmitted to his son. 

During the 3d of May, it was seen that the life of 
Napoleon* was drawing evidently to a close. And 
on that day the priest Vignali administered the 
sacrament of extreme unction. Some days before. 
Napoleon had explained to him the manner in 
which he desired his body should be laid out in 
state, in an apartment Hghted by torches, or what 
catholics call un chambre ardente, • * I am neither, *' 
ke said, **a philosopher nor a physician. I be- 
Uev« in God, and am of the religion of my father. 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 281 

It is not every body who can be an atheist. I was 
bom a catholic, and will fulfil all the. duties of the 
catholic church, and receive the assistance which 
it administers." 

As if to mark a closing point of resemblance be- 
twixt Cromwell and Napoleon, a dreadful tempest 
arose on the 4th of May, which preceded the day 
that was to close the mortal existence of this extra- 
ordinary man. A willow, which had been the ex- 
ile's favorite, and under which he had often enjoy- 
ed the fresh breeze, was torn up by the hurricane ; 
and almost all the trees about Longwood shared the 
same fate. 

The 5th of May came amid wind and rain. Na- 
poleon's passing spirit was deliriously engaged in a 
strife more terrible than that of the elements a- 
round. The words "tete d'armee," were the last 
words which escaped his lips, and intimated that his 
thoughts were watching the current of a heavy fight. 
About eleven minutes before six in the evening, Na- 
poleon, after a struggle which indicated the origi- 
nal strength of his constitution, breathed his last. 

The officers of Napoleon's household were dis- 
posed to have the body anatomized in secret. But 
sir Hudson Lowe, aware of the responsibility under 
which he and his country stood, declared, that even 
if he were reduced to make use of force, he would 
make sure the presence of English physicians at 
the dissection, 

Drs. Thomas Short, Archbald Arnott, Charlvs 
Mitchel, Mathew Livingston, and Francis Burtorr, 
with others, were present. The cause of his death 

Z 2 



28^ LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

was sufficiently evident, A large uker occupied 
almost the whole of the stomach. It was only the 
strong adhesion of the diseased parts of that organ 
to the concave surface of the lobe of the liver, 
which being over the ulcer, had prolonged the pa- 
tient's life by preventing the escape of the contents 
of the stomach into the cavity of the abdomen. All 
the other parts of the vicera were found in a tolera- 
bly healthy state. The report was signed by the 
British medical gentlemen present. 

The gentlemen of Napoleon's suite were desirous 
that his heart should be preserved and given to 
their custody. But sir Hudson Lowe did not feel 
himself at liberty to permit this upon his own au- 
thority. He agreed, however, that tlie heart should 
be put in a silver vase, filled with spirits, and in- 
terred along with the body. 

It was Napoleon's wish that his remains should 
be conveyed to Europe, but this was not permitted. 
The body, after lying in state in his small bed-room, 
during which time it was visited by every person 
of condition in the island, was on ihe 8th of May 
carried to the place of interment, in a beautiful 
valley, under the pendant branches of several flour- 
ishing weeping willows, near his favorite spring, in 
a spot of his own choosing. The pall which cover-- 
ed the coffin was the military cloak which Napole- 
on had worn at the battle of Marengo. The mem- 
bers of his late household attended as mourners, 
and were followed by the governor, the admiral, 
and all the civil and military authorities of the is- 
land. All the troops were under arms upon the 



NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 283 

doletnn occasion. As the road did not permit a 
near approach of the hearse to the place of sepul- 
ture, a party of British grenadiers had the honor to 
bear the coffin to the grave. The prayers were 
recited by the priest Abbe Vignali. Minute guns 
were fired from the admiral's ship. The coffin was 
then let down into the gravcj, under a discharge of 
three successive volleys of artillery, fifteen pieces 
of cannon firing fifteen guns each. A large stone 
was then lowered down on the grave, and covered 
the moderate space now sufficient for the man for 
whom Europe was once too little. 



Having arrived at the conclusion of this brief^t^t 
momentous narrative, the mind cannot help bein^ 
struck with the character of that wonderful person on 
whom fortune showered so many favors in the begin- 
ning and through the middle of his career, to make 
its close with such deep and unwonted afflictions. 

The external appearance of Napoleon was not 
imposing at the first glance, his stature being only 
five feet six inches English. His person, thin in 
youth, but somewhat corpulent in age, was rather 
delicate than robust in outward appearance, but 
cast in the mould most capable of enduring priva- 
tion and fatigue. The countenance of Napoleon is 
familar to almost every one from description, and 
the portraits which are found every where. His 
smile possessed uncommon sweetness, and is stated 
to have been irresistible. 

His personal and private character was decided- 
ly amiable. He was an excellent husband, a kind 



«64 LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS OF 

relation, and unless when state policy intervened, 
a most affectionate brother. Never was master so 
loved and adored^ even by his followers and attend- 
ants, whose sufferings, on his own account were 
nearly equal to his own. Never did any monarch 
attract so many friends, known and unknown, and 
who would willingly have shed their blood for his 
sake, and never was a man a more liberal rewarder 
of the attachment of his friends. 

But his greatness was obscured by his ambition, 
and his love of absolute power. He owned "he 
had been a spoiled child of fortune." From his en- 
trance into life, he had been accustomed to com- 
mand, and circumstances and the force of his own 
character were such, that as soon as he became 
possessed of power he acknowledged no master, and 
obeyed no laws except those of his own creation. 

Repeated victories could not satisfy his insatia- 
ble appetite for glory. He never foresaw any re- 
verses, or, if he did, he never made any provision 
against them. He depended too much upon his 
"high destinies" and tributary kings ; he expected 
too much from his newly created marshals. These 
kings felt themselves as only instruments in his 
hands ; and the marshals saw no end to his arduous 
campaigns. Cradled in the camp, however, he 
was the darling of the army to the last hour. 

But he is no more ; and in bidcUng adieu to the 
subject of Napoleon, we are called upon to observe 
that he was a man tried in the two extremities of 
the most exalted power and the most ineffable ca- 
lamity ; and if he occasionally appeared presump- 



385 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 

tuous when surrounded by the armed force of half 
a world, or unreasonably querulous when imprison- 
ed within the narrow limits of St. Helena, it is 
scarce within the capacity of those whose steps 
have never led them beyond the middle path of 
life to estimate either the strength of the tempta- 
tions to which he yielded, or the force of mind 
which he opposed to those which he was able to 
resist. 

THE END. 



/A 



